My Writing Adventure Continues (Slowly)
Just a quick update here, folks, as I’m in the process of trying to get a new story out to the Writers of the Future contest as their quarter ends at 11:59 PM PDT on 3/31/15 and my story is, at best, three-quarters finished.
Once that’s done, I hope to be able to blog about a few subjects near and dear to my heart, including baseball, my opposition to Indiana’s new “Religious Freedom and Restoration Act” which looks to me like anti-LGBT legislation (and thus needs to be either rescinded or amended, stat), and some discussion about words, their meanings, and whether or not some words should ever be off-limits (whether in baseball or in politics) because they’re considered overused, hackneyed, trite, and/or politically sensitive.
But for now, I’m alive, and I’m writing. Recovery is in process, and while it continues to be slow, I’ve been able to gain a little ground in regards to my final edit of A LITTLE ELFY IN BIG TROUBLE and with regards to this proposed story, which I fully intend to send to the WotF contest if I can only finish it…
Anyway, back to work.
The Revenge of C.diff — and Other Stuff
Folks, I’ve been dealing with a nasty intestinal illness for the past several weeks. It’s called C.diff, and it came on suddenly after I’d finished a course of antibiotics for a sinus infection.
Because of this, I haven’t blogged, I haven’t written much, and I haven’t been able to do as much editing as I wanted, including the final touches to my novel A LITTLE ELFY IN BIG TROUBLE, the sequel (or continuation) to AN ELFY ON THE LOOSE. (Or, as I put it to myself — and for long-time readers — the second half of ELFY.)
I’ve been put on a very strong medicine to combat this C.diff, and while it seems to be working, it has left me weak and tired.
That said, I will persist…as I said a while back, I may be slowed, but I haven’t stopped.
And I won’t stop.
Admittedly, I am frustrated. I want to be doing so much more than this. (“Outrunning time,” as Lois McMaster Bujold put it in A CIVIL CAMPAIGN.) Being sick for weeks or months on end is certainly not my idea of an endgame, and I hope I will somehow be able to regain my health soon.
That said, I continue to work on my final edit of A LITTLE ELFY IN BIG TROUBLE. I hope to have it to my publisher within a few weeks’ time, and then start work on my final edit of CHANGING FACES. I also hope to finish up a few short stories and attempt the Writers of the Future contest again this quarter if at all possible — though with the quarter end rapidly approaching, that might not be doable.
As for an update with regards to the Joey Maverick series started by my late husband Michael, I remain stalled there also. I am working on a novelette or possibly a novella in that universe, but it’s going extremely slowly — possibly because of how little energy I’ve had to work with due to the present nasty illness, already in progress.
Now, why am I telling you all of this, when I’d rather be discussing anything else? Partly because I believe in being honest. Partly because I think we need to talk more about what troubles us. And partly because I know there are people who follow my life and career — God/dess help them — and have asked me what the status is with regards to my writing and my health.
My weekend plans are to do some editing, both for myself and for a client who’s been patiently waiting, and to see if I can get any writing done. I also plan to finally review Dick Button’s interesting book on figure skating, PUSH DICK’S BUTTON, over at Shiny Book Review later today for Nonfiction Friday. (Edited to add: review is up.)
So I’ll continue to do what I can, and hope that things will pick up from here. (I can’t remember now if the phrase is “We live in hope” or “We live and hope,” but either way, that’s what I’m doing right now.)
And thanks, as always, for coming to my blog. I do appreciate it.
A Frustrating Wednesday Update, Already in Progress…
Folks, you may have noticed that I haven’t blogged at all since last week Monday.
There’s a reason for that. I’ve been ill, first with a nasty sinus infection, and then with a suspected case of food poisoning on top of that.
I hate giving these sorts of updates, mind you. They annoy me. I want to be doing things. I want to be writing, editing, reviewing books, even putting in job applications…but instead, I’ve been having to rest, eat bland food, and rest some more.
Needless to say, I’m not a happy camper.
I’ve managed to do about two hours of editing and zero writing in the past four days (not including reading manuscripts for evaluation, which I agree is work but isn’t nearly as taxing). I’m about to go stir-crazy, because I’d hoped to use this week as a springboard to get back on track with my edit for A LITTLE ELFY IN BIG TROUBLE…and it’s just not happening. (At least, not yet.)
My husband used to tell me that if I rested when I needed to rest, I’d come back stronger. His advice was always good, and I’m trying to take it now. But it’s incredibly difficult because I want to be up and doing, and instead am confined to baby steps.
I’ve been told that the food poisoning (or whatever it is that’s severely irritated my stomach) should be gone by the weekend. I sincerely hope so. As it is, all I can do now is plan to get things done just as soon as I’m physically able to do them.
And that’s not a position I like being in.
Monday Inspiration: How “The Grit Factor” Can Work For You
Recently, I read “The Grit Factor” by Bob Carney in Golf Digest. “The Grit Factor” talks about many qualities that are needed for self-improvement, including mental toughness, resilience, and a willingness to work on all parts of your game — not just the easy stuff that you already know you can do, but the toughest things, too.
After I read this, I had one of those “aha!” moments similar to when I read The Inner Game of Tennis years ago. “The Grit Factor” has many of the same precepts, to wit:
- The real struggle is inward, with yourself, rather than outward against other players.
- Your principal obstacles are self-doubt and anxiety; once you can get a handle on those, or at least are prepared to deal with them, you can concentrate better on what you’re doing.
- You must believe that everything you do, no matter how long it takes, leads toward your goals.
Mind, there’s a lot more going on with “The Grit Factor” than that, but those principles seemed to make the most sense in a writing and editing context.
Consider that writers spend a great deal of time lost in thought, working either outwardly or inwardly on our works-in-progress. Because we don’t have a way to measure how well we’re doing at any given time, it can be easy to give in to self-doubt (“Is what I’m doing worth anything?”) or anxiety (“Will releasing my next book make any difference?”). So it seems obvious that managing these things is essential…or at least acknowledging these things exist could be beneficial.
Why?
Well, if you think that you’re the only writer on the face of the Earth who sometimes struggles with anxiety or self-doubt, it’s easy for that self-doubt or anxiety to stay inside you. Internalized, it sabotages your creative process at a deep level, and it can be hard to get away from that.
What I’ve found that works for me is to admit that yes, I’m anxious about certain things. (For example, right now I’m worried about how long it’s taking me to go over my final edit and come up with a revised first chapter for my second book, A LITTLE ELFY IN BIG TROUBLE.) But so long as I’m making any progress, even if it’s very slow and I can’t necessarily always see it, I have to count that as a win.
Providing I can admit that I’m nervous, I’m able to do a great deal more than when I try to shut it off and just refuse to talk about it. And that’s something I learned way back when I first read The Inner Game of Tennis.
Mind, that doesn’t mean “everything is awesome” (hat tip to The Lego Movie) when it comes to writing. There is a need for honest criticism. Without that, you can’t improve. (“The Grit Factor” discusses how just giving people ego-gratification all the time doesn’t help, though the author puts it a completely different way.) But you don’t need to beat yourself up while you’re working your heart out to improve, either.
If you take away one thing from today’s post, please remember this: As I’ve said before, writing a book is a marathon, not a sprint. Be resilient, be persistent, don’t give up, and keep working on your weakest areas.
That’s the best way to win, as a writer or at life.
Enter the Wined, Dined and Read Blog Hop!
Folks, a while back, Aaron Lazar over at the excellent writer’s website Murder By 4 invited me to the Wined, Dined and Read Blog Hop. This particular hop discusses food in the context of our favorite characters…and is possibly the most unusual blog hop I’ve ever taken part in, to boot.
Are you ready to read more about my tastes in wine and food, much less my main characters from AN ELFY ON THE LOOSE, Bruno and Sarah, and their taste in food? (As they’re too young to drink much wine as of yet?) If so, read on…
If your main character were a glass of wine, which one would he be?
Bruno would definitely be a merlot, as like a merlot, Bruno is much more complex than he seems at first.
Describe your book in one meal:
What Aaron Lazar did here was to mention a meal his characters in BETRAYAL actually had instead. As that seemed to work well for him, I’ll do the same thing and discuss a meal Bruno and Sarah have in AN ELFY ON THE LOOSE (extra word added by me for the sake of clarity):
After a quick survey of the (refrigerator’s) contents, they realized ham, cheese, grapes, apples, and juice were readily available.
“Sarah, we can’t carry all of this at once. We’ll spill it and make a big mess.”
“We’ll be fine, Bruno,” she said reassuringly. “Let’s take it one step at a time.”
Bruno took one step and asked, “Like this?”
She laughed so hard her shoulders shook. After she’d recovered a bit of sobriety, she said, “I suppose if we each took one step, it would take forever.”
“Yeah,” he said. “But at least I made you laugh. I missed you, Sarah.”
“I missed you, too,” she said quietly. “But for now, let’s eat. Then we can catch up.”
“All right,” he agreed, wondering why girls always stated the obvious.
“I have an idea, though,” she said.
“Oh?”
“Why not take a little at a time into my bedroom, as we took the bowls and the crackers before?”
“Ah! That makes a great deal of sense,” Bruno agreed.
“I thought you’d see it my way,” she said dryly. Then, smiling, she picked up two apples plus the grapes and went into her room. Bruno picked up the ham and cheese and followed her.
“See? We’re halfway done,” she said brightly.
“Won’t we need glasses, too?” he asked as he followed her back out into the kitchen.
“You worry too much.” She took the step-stool, went to the appropriate cabinet, ascended to the right level, got the glasses and handed them down to Bruno. “See? No problem.”
Bruno took the glasses into Sarah’s bedroom, holding the door open for Sarah as she carried in the orange juice. “Is that heavy?” he asked.
“No, it’s not too bad,” she said. “Besides, it won’t be as heavy to carry back because we’ll drink a lot of it!”
“Well, that’s one way to look at it.”
“That’s what I thought,” she nodded, satisfied.
Other than Sarah having to run into the kitchen to get a knife to cut the ham and cheese, the breakfast wasn’t too bad.
Or in other words, Bruno and Sarah will eat whatever is readily available, as they’re in a crisis situation. (Clear as mud, no?)
What candy would your book be?
Deep, rich, dark chocolate, preferably with hazelnuts in it. Bruno is partial to it, and he believes the chocolate in the Human Realm (our Earth) is far superior to the chocolate made in the Elfy Realm.
What does your book smell like?
Like springtime, where the birds are chirping, the small animals are coming out of hibernation, and everything seems fresh and new. (But no flowers, please. Bruno is allergic.)
Your book’s snack would be:
Chocolate chip cookies. (Again, Bruno’s partial to them.)
Describe your most memorable meal:
On Christmas Day in 2002, my husband Michael cooked chicken kebabs along with roasted potatoes and — because he knew I liked them — some zucchini and some rutabagas. (The last is my family’s favorite holiday food. Michael didn’t like either one, but he made them just for me.) The kebabs were particularly flavorful, while the potatoes, squash and rutabagas were just the right accompaniment. This, by far, was the best meal I’ve ever eaten.
One food word to describe your writing style:
Appetizing?
What will someone find you eating/drinking when you’re really into a good book?
A diet soda over ice, some tortilla chips and salsa (which probably negates any good I’ve done with the calorie-saving diet soda), and possibly some dark chocolate for dessert.
Sweet or salty?
It depends on my mood. Usually I’d reach for something salty over something sweet…but I might just reach for a sweet something-or-other just to be contrary, too. (I’m like Sarah, that way.)
That concludes my part of the Wined, Dined and Read blog-hop…maybe a few other authors will want to chime in? I’m tagging Jason Cordova, Chris Nuttall, and N.N. Light as authors who might be intrigued enough to give this one a go down the line…but whether they do or not, go check out their sites and do read their books!
Get “An Elfy on the Loose” for Free on March 1, 2015
Folks, if you’ve wanted to read AN ELFY ON THE LOOSE but haven’t had the money to do so, listen up.
On March 1, 2015 — that’s just a few minutes from now — AN ELFY ON THE LOOSE will be free at the Twilight Times Books website.
Yes. Free.
Why? Well, it’s “Read an e-book week.” There will be a number of excellent Twilight Times Books offered this week for free, including Stephanie Osborn’s THE CASE OF THE DISPLACED DETECTIVE: THE ARRIVAL, Chris Nuttall’s SCHOOLED IN MAGIC and Aaron Paul Lazar’s DON’T LET THE WIND CATCH YOU. All you have to do is bookmark this page for the next week, and you can be reading excellent free books all week long.
I’m not exactly sure when my book AN ELFY ON THE LOOSE will be available for free, mind…but it will happen sometime on March 1, 2015, and will stay free for 24 hours.
Once I know for certain that it’s available as a free e-book, I’ll be Tweeting about it and probably writing something on Facebook as well. But for now, all I know is that it will be free on March 1…
And the clock is ticking. (Are you ready?)
Reflections on the Passing of Actor Leonard Nimoy
Actor Leonard Nimoy, Spock of the original “Star Trek” TV series, died yesterday at the age of 83. Nimoy wasn’t solely an actor — he was a musician, a poet, a photographer, and a movie director, among many other things — but he was known mostly for bringing one role to life: Spock, the half-Vulcan, half-human first officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise.
Spock, the quintessential outsider.
Spock, a type of Everyman who could comment, dispassionately, about subjects otherwise often seen as off-limits in contemporary society (much less TV).
Many people are going to be discussing Nimoy’s legacy, and rightfully so. He was a brilliant actor, and in many ways he was at the center of what “Star Trek” was all about.
But my own reflections are far closer to home than that.
When I was young, I discovered “Star Trek” on television in syndication. I was a fan of DeForest Kelley’s Leonard “Bones” McCoy more than Leonard Nimoy’s Spock, mind you, but without Spock’s dispassion, McCoy’s emotional outbursts would’ve had no foil and much less resonance. Somehow, even in my early teens, I picked up on this, and wanted to know more about the actors behind “Star Trek.”
So I read Leonard Nimoy’s first biography, I AM NOT SPOCK. What I found out was that Nimoy was many things besides his most famous, iconic role. His journey as an artist and a sensitive soul was one of my biggest inspirations as a teenager.
It was because of Nimoy’s book, at least in part, that I realized you could be different and still be a good person. That you could be a sensitive artist who your parents did not understand — as his own parents definitely didn’t understand Nimoy’s passion for acting, or the arts in general — and still be able to forge a good life for yourself. And I learned that sometimes it takes time for your vision of yourself to be realized — as Nimoy struggled for years as an actor before he finally landed his role on “Star Trek.”
I did not know Mr. Nimoy, except for watching him on TV and once, very briefly, meeting him at a science fiction convention. But he seemed to me to be a man of worth, talent, and grace.
I mourn his passing.
Introducing Author N.N. Light and her novel, “Princess of the Light”
Folks, I’ve never done this before, but author N. N. Light and I are simultaneously guest-posting at each other’s blog today. Her blog is usually found at http://princessofthelight.wordpress.com, and it’s well worth reading as she has many interesting things to say about writing and creativity. She also is known for her generosity, as many other writers have guested at her blog — though as far as I know, this is her first and only simultaneous guest-blog appearance.
Now, as to how I know Mrs. Light — aka “Mrs. N.” on Twitter? She and I started talking on Twitter several months ago because we are both baseball fans. (She’s a fan of the Minnesota Twins, while as everyone here knows, I’m a fan of the Milwaukee Brewers.)
What can I tell you about Mrs. N.’s book? Well, it’s her debut novel, and it’s a Christian inspirational fantasy-romance. Her main character, Mary, is floored when she’s informed that she has a purpose and a destiny by none other than Archangel Gabriel himself (as you’ll see in the excerpt, below), and she works hard to reconcile what she knows of the world with what she must do. I’ve found Princess of the Light to be a heartwarming, inspirational novel of hope and faith, and I hope to be able to give it the longer review it deserves down the line over at Shiny Book Review (and, of course, at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.)
I hope you will enjoy Mrs. N.’s guest appearance here at the Elfyverse blog…and I also hope you’ll be able to take a gander at my guest appearance at her blog.
Now, let’s get to getting! Here’s some interesting things you probably didn’t know about Mary, the heroine of Princess of the Light, organized in an A to Z format! (Enjoy!)
********
Get to Know Mary, aka the Princess of the Light,
From A to Z
A- Art is one of her loves and she secretly paints in her free time
B- Bookstore Manager and loves all things books
C- Coffee and chocolate are her addictions
D-Demons attack her at every turn and she must defeat them all
E- Empathy is one of her gifts from the time she was little
F- Friends are her family and she loves her friends fiercely
G- Golden Lake is her home and she loves it so much
H- Her greatest fear is turning evil and giving in to the demons
I- Insecurity flutters around her heart as she wonders if she can truly be the Princess of the Light
J- Jokes and comedy make her laugh heartily
K- Kicking Than’s butt gives her pleasure
L- Love, pure unconditional love, burns brightly in her soul
M- Musicals, she loves them and her favorite is “Guys and Dolls”
N- Natural appearance and make-up is her fashion sense
O- Orange is definitely not the new black in her opinion
P- Purple is her favorite color and lavender is her favorite scent
Q- Quiet and shy is the type of child she was growing up
R- Reading is her favorite thing to do and she encourages everyone to read
S- Soul mates are something she strongly believes in and she may have found hers
T- Transportation for her is mass transit or walking
U- Underneath it all, she is a normal woman living her life
V- Vexed by Lisbeth at every turn, she must figure out a way to banish the demon
W- Winter is her least favorite season, although she loves Christmas
X- Xtra sensitive talking about her father, Richard, as he died in a car crash
Y- Yearns for the day when the world is filled with Light and hunger is eliminated
Z- Zeal to heal and help all those who feel helpless and alone
Title: Princess of the Light
Author: N. N. Light
Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance, Christian Fantasy, Inspirational Fiction
Blurb:
Gabriel, the Archangel and Messenger of God – yeah, that Gabriel – visits Mary Miller. He tells her, as the key, she is destined to spread the Light and vanquish the Darkness. Her first assignment is to restore the soul of the Walking Man. Sounds simple enough — until she’s thrown into the face of evil. And then, Joe Deacons enters her heart. This battle just got a lot more complicated. She must complete her mission without losing all she loves.
Extra-Long Excerpt:
Gabriel, archangel and Messenger of Light, watched as the Princess calmly slept. Her long auburn hair framed her face, and she showed no signs of stirring.
He folded his wings and sighed.
Gabriel had been sent by the Father to announce the coming of the Princess. This was the first time he had seen her. She didn’t look like much of anything special—nothing in her outward appearance suggested that such strength resided right beneath the surface. Then again, he thought, the carrier of the Light from two thousand years ago hadn’t appeared all that extraordinary, either.
Maybe the common features had been inherently within the Lord’s plan all along. As Gabriel took in this reality, he noted one striking feature that differed from many mortals: she glowed with a heavenly purple hue. Purple is the color of God’s chosen, he reflected silently. The purple-shaded essence that was normally only visible by celestial beings seemed to slightly shimmer through her skin, as well. He knew that the Light would soon shine so bright from her that the world may possibly be rejuvenated.
Gabriel knelt and bowed his head.
“Lord,” his whisper barely more than a breath of air, “I am ready to do Your will. I am ever Your humble servant, and I pray that you see fit to continue using me to spread your Truth. In Your name, this I pray. Amen.”
Gabriel slowly rose and unfurled his wings and Light flooded the room. The woman arched her back slightly in a stretch, then she lengthened her right arm over her head. With a quiet yawn, the woman finally stirred.
Gabriel gently smiled as she opened her eyes.
“There is no reason to be afraid, Princess,” he soothed as the woman widened her eyes in fear. She gasped and glanced around for any escape. Seeing none, she grabbed the bedcovers and pulled them under her chin.
“Who…? Who…? Who are you?” She stammered. In an effort to gain control, she straightened her back and breathed slowly.
“I know a lot about you. My name is Gabriel, and I have a message for you from God.”
“A message for me?” Her voice squeaked, betraying the lack of fear she was beginning to put back into her demeanor.
He continued. “You have been chosen to be The Lord’s bearer of the Light and His Princess.” He wanted to speak more informally, but her reaction required him to be slightly aloof. She must not question the seriousness of the message he was relaying.
The woman crossed her arms over her chest and looked at Gabriel in disbelief. “Oh, come on. This can’t be real. How can any of that be true?” She shook her head, and then continued her rant of disbelief: “I must be dreaming or something. This doesn’t happen to ordinary people. Sure, I believe what they say in the Bible is true. I have always told myself that if God chose me, I wouldn’t hesitate.”
She paused, seeming to consider the magnitude of what she had just said.
“Who are you, anyway? Why are you here telling me this? Could it really be true? Could I be the Lord’s Princess?” As she ran her fingers through her red hair, the woman took a ragged breath. She abruptly stopped and placed her hand over her chest.
“What if I can’t do it? What if I fail? Will I go to Hell? Will the Lord punish me? Oh, Lord, please help me to understand.” Before Gabriel had a chance to respond, the woman closed her eyes and simply fainted.
Gabriel folded his wings behind him and gently sat down beside her on the bed. His strong Light dimmed in compassion, and he carefully adjusted her head so that it was leaning back naturally. Then, he started to situate pillows behind her back for a more comfortable position, so that when she woke up, she might be calmer.
He stole a side-long look at her face again and jumped a bit. He was astonished to see that she was just quietly watching him. Now he could see the courage and strength. He decided to try again.
“You may not believe me, but you’re a very special woman. Mortals call the daughter of a king Princess. You are a daughter of God and he has chosen you to be His carrier of the Light.” This time she didn’t argue, but she still shook her head, nonetheless.
Gabriel silenced her by lightly pressing a finger to her lips. “No. Let me finish, please,” he said on the verge of sounding a little too stern. “The message I have for you is very important.” When she didn’t try to interrupt, he continued. “You have been blessed, and the same Light that the Virgin Mary carried is also inside of you. That Spirit is in all those with faith, but you have a special purpose. Not only do you carry the Light, but you will be the Lord’s Warrior Princess.” A car horn trumpeted a warning outside. The woman didn’t appear to notice, but Gabriel knew he must finish delivering this message, because he would soon be needed elsewhere.
“Since the beginning of time,” he explained, “God has believed in free will for His people. The Devil and his minions have always taken advantage of this. The destruction of souls has been increasing at an alarming rate. Always patient, God loves His creation—you and your fellow mankind.”
“The darkness has begun covering the globe and something must be done, if all is not to be lost. You will be used to offer the world an awakening. Through you, some will begin to see and hear what they have otherwise been closed to. You are the key.”
Again, Gabriel paused. The woman was staring blankly at him, eyes intent with concentration. He continued.
“The final straw, Princess, was when a mortal named André was taken. André was a good soul the Lord had favored. André came too close to helping spread the Light and a group of demons successfully tempted him away from that goal. The loss of André and his desired goal tipped the balance. You are to help bring him back out of despair. Strength and resolve must defeat the tempestuous storm these demons are causing. Your faith gives you that power.”
“Wait a minute,” the woman interrupted, “Are you saying that I am going to be this Warrior Princess?” Her brown eyes widened and her mouth hung open incredulously. “No, no… No, no, no,” she argued. “This can’t be happening.” Shock and fear pulsed so strongly through her unseen Light that Gabriel could feel it as his own.
“Yes,” he tried to soothe. “You have been chosen. You are the Princess destined to lead God’s army and infuse Earth with the Light of faith and strength once again. You and the Warrior, that is. For too long, this world has been shrouded in darkness. You are the chosen one God wants to be His Champion and smite down the demons.”
The woman sat silently looking at him. It didn’t seem to have occurred to her that as a heavenly being, he would be able to hear her inner dialogue.
How am I supposed to be God’s warrior? She questioned within her heart. I’m not the violent type. I get angry at seeing someone being bullied or an injustice done, sure, but how can I do this? I’m not strong enough. I’m just one person. Who’s this Warrior of the Light? How am I supposed to figure out who André is amongst a whole planet of people?
The red head closed her now-violet eyes and started to rub her throbbing temples.
“This is just too much,” she whispered. Her eyes settled back down to brown again.
Gabriel wished he could comfort her, but he also knew she needed to be able to deal with her emotions in the face of this mission. That ability would only become more and more important as the journey continued.
He brushed a stray hair from her forehead. The unexpected compassion startled her. For a moment he had forgotten how disconnected and unsympathetic humans had become of late. He amended his behavior to fit the times and watched as she looked down as his large, glowing hand patted her tightly clasped hands. He sighed.
“I know this is a lot to take in, Princess. I’m here to answer all of your questions.” Gabriel closed his eyes and prayed. Strength came to those who sought it, but it was not up to him to force her. He searched her heart and mind for what she needed to hear most right now. There were so many questions and emotions that ran contrary to one another that he fought to get to the truth.
“I will help you,” he comforted. “Others need you, but you are not alone.”
She sighed heavily and said after a moment, “Why me?”
“The Lord never makes a mistake. He sees a faithful, strong woman who will be His instrument for good. You will restore the Light in many and will crush the darkness. You were destined to be God’s Princess.”
The woman, now fully awake and appearing to calm down, reached over and pulled open a drawer next to her bed. The lamp above illuminated a single brush, a litany of hair clips, and what appeared to be a well-worn Bible. Gabriel smiled to himself.
“How am I,” her words broke as she yanked and pulled her thick red hair into a ponytail “going to restore… the Light… and crush the darkness?” She tossed the brush back into the drawer and slid it closed with a little thud.
“The Lord has given you many gifts. Most of which are still untapped, Pr—”
“Mary. Please call me Mary.”
“Okay. Mary, with this calling, the gifts will help you to be the embodiment of the Light. Some include your ability to see spirits, visions, and psychic phenomenon. The Lord left you a letter that gives you guidance and warning with these abilities.” He motioned to the nightstand. “Your heart must remain pure, Mary. God warns that even Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
Gabriel watched as she took it all in. The Light within her glowed brighter and her eyes gleamed with a violet hue again. The Light was taking control and she was becoming the vessel the world needed.
“Your Light must remain true. Through your compassion, you will have the strength to bring the Light into the darkness. You will be tempted through your compassion. Choices have been made, Mary.” He couldn’t say more. The rest would be left to God’s Will.
“Am I going to face the darkness alone?” She trembled as she said the word darkness.
He sensed her fear returning and frowned.
“You have nothing to fear. You have the power of the Light within you. You are never alone. The Lord is always with you—along with several leagues of angels. I will always be near.” Gabriel realized that some of what he was saying she may not be ready for yet. “Think of me like your coach,” he explained. “I’m here to help train you for whatever comes. I will teach you how to use your Light to help others and I will never be further away than the side lines. All you need to do is focus on the goal: André.”
“Who is André anyway?” Mary glanced at her Bible. She appeared fearful that it was a story she had forgotten.
“André is a man without a place to call home.”
“What’s so special about him? Just the fact that he’s homeless?”
“The Lord favored André and thought him to be a good soul. He had aims and goals in life that pleased God. Unfortunately, André became strongly tempted by a demon. Mortals must all make the choice to come on their own. The love for God cannot be forced.” He paused. “That’s where you come in, Pr— Mary. Plant the seed and God will help it grow. You must defeat the chaff so the wheat can grow.”
“Oh.” Confusion and resolve fought each other across Mary’s face. Gabriel had said enough. The rest was up to her.
“I will explain in more detail tomorrow. For now, all you need to know is that you are the Princess and the Lord knows you can do this. I know this is a lot to deal with. All the Lord asks is that you continue to be faithful and put your trust in Him. Listen to His voice. Trust Him to guide your footsteps.”
Mary asked simply, “Tomorrow?”
“Yes, I will meet you tomorrow afternoon and we will have our first training lesson. Get some rest and listen for the Lord’s commands. Everything you need to know is in that book beside you.”
Gabriel stood and unfurled his wings. “If you need my help, you only need to say my name, and I will appear.” He took her hands in his and looked her squarely in the eyes. “You will encounter many ups and downs, Mary, but know that the universe is filled with angels—angels that follow and worship the Lord. You are truly not alone.”
Gabriel bowed his head, like in prayer, extended his wings, and seemed to glide effortlessly up to Heaven.
Mary fell back on her bed and wept.
Buy Links:
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/469480
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/princess-of-the-light-nn-light/1120170709?ean=9781502438454
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Light-N/dp/1502438453
Amazon Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/Princess-Light-N-ebook/dp/B00N19FDKO
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Princess-Light-N-ebook/dp/B00N19FDKO
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/princess-of-the-light-1
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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23009005-princess-of-the-light
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Author Bio: N.N. Light was born in Minnesota, lived in Southern California only to move to chilly Ontario, Canada to marry her beloved husband MR N. She is blissfully happy and loves all things chocolate, books, music, movies, art, sports and baking. She has been telling stories since the age of five and her mantra is to spread the Light. Most of the time you can find her on Twitter or getting new ideas on how to spread the Light on Pinterest. She is a proud member of ASMSG, Independent Author Network and Marketing for Romance Writers.
Part of the proceeds of Princess of the Light will go directly to food banks in order to feed the hungry and help those in need. With only 7,500 books sold, N. N. Light will be able to set up a monthly endowment for the local food bank.
I’d love to connect with you either via email or via these various social media sites:
Website: http://princessofthelight.com
Blog: http://princessofthelight.wordpress.com
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Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/118060034268079734144/posts
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Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/nnlight
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iAuthor: http://www.iauthor.uk.com/princess-of-the-light:10294
A Quick Monday Update
Folks, I’ve been editing up a storm the past week. Though I still have a lot more work to do, at least I’ve been able to come up for air a little bit so I can write a little blog-let.
But what should I write about today? Hm…good question.
One of these days, I intend to discuss the different types of editing I do, including developmental (also known as content editing), copy-editing, proofreading, and continuity reading.
In other words, there are levels within levels of editing…that’s the main point I’m trying to get at. Developmental editing takes the longest; copy-editing plus a continuity read takes the second-longest; proofreading is the easiest and takes the shortest amount of time, though it’s still not exactly short if you want to do a good job.
Clear as mud, no? (That’s what happens when a huge edit gets finished, and I get short on sleep.)
Anyway, I do have a few interesting things happening this week, including another edit (for myself, this time), a story that I’m working on (currently vexing me, but I hope I’ll have it straightened out soon) that’s due in on March 1, and a guest blog/swap this upcoming Wednesday with author N.N. Light, author of the Christian inspirational fantasy PRINCESS OF THE LIGHT — I’ll be interviewed at her blog, while she’ll have a guest post here at my blog on the same day.
As for reviews, I remain behind. Right now, there are two or three SF&F books in the queue along with two shorter works by Cherylynn Dyess (those may be reviewed together, but are probably still a week off due to my workload) — the books I’m probably going to review next over at Shiny Book Review are Ann Leckie’s ANCILLARY SWORD and Emily St. John Mandel’s STATION ELEVEN, though it’s possible I may review Victoria Alexander’s latest for Romance Saturday instead. (All depends on workload.)
Oh, yes — and did I mention that I have a concert to play with the Racine Concert Band this week, too? That’s this Thursday evening over at Horlick High School, if you live nearby and are interested in coming…I’m playing the alto saxophone for this concert.
Anyway, this is a high workload week. (I’m already exhausted just thinking about it!) But somehow, I’m going to get it done, get my book edited, get the story written, and along the way I’ll definitely have that guest blog exchange with N.N. Light on Wednesday.
One, final thing — since the Milwaukee Brewers Spring Training is officially underway (at least as far as the pitchers and catchers go), I’m definitely thinking about baseball. (So could another story about my baseball-loving psychic, Madame Arletta, and her werewolf husband Fergus be in the offing?)
Stay tuned.
Two New Reviews up at Shiny Book Review (SBR)
Folks, it took me longer than I’d have liked to review two new books over at Shiny Book Review (SBR for short, as always). One was nonfiction, the other was fiction. Both were outstanding.
The first, UNBROKEN CIRCLES FOR SCHOOLS by Ken Johnson, is a nonfiction book about what schools can do to help juvenile offenders. (This is a vast oversimplification, of course.) Mr. Johnson discusses the differences between retributive and restorative justice (the latter is much better, but isn’t often used by our criminal justice system), and how schools can help. Go read my review, then check out this outstanding book.
The second, DEVIL’S LAKE, is a romantic suspense novel by Aaron Paul Lazar. It’s an outstanding novel in every respect, and I was pleased to review it on Valentine’s Day for our Romance Saturday at SBR promotion.
So if you’re looking for something new to read in either nonfiction or fiction, head on over to SBR and take a look at these two reviews.
Barb Caffrey's Blog 