Writing Advice With: Jessica Greyson

Hi everyone! :)

Today we have some amazing writing advice from Jessica Greyson, author of Annabeth's War and Captive Of Raven Castle! :)

(by the way, sorry that this post is so late!)

1. What is your favorite part about writing? Why?

The beginning of writing, is the best. When the words and character just start to come a live beneath your fingers, from the first word to the last, the first draft is always the best—for the author (at least in my mind) it has the purest intentions and feelings held within its pages with no one to mess, misinterpret or pick it apart yet. Granted those are all needed! But for me the best part of writing is the first draft.

2. Who helped you the most while you were beginning to write?

My mom has always been there to help me with writing in school. But it was my best friend that got me to finish my fiction stories, I had written many stories, but never finished them. When she started asking me to send my flawed work to her so she could read as I wrote, I found my first audience and it gave me the courage overcome obstacles and finish the story.

3. What first gave you the idea for Annabeth's War? 

Annabeth’s War is a accumulation of many things that all sparked at once and wove together into a story. There is a huge lack of girls that can be feminine and strong. That was something I really wanted to create, a strong woman, yet on with a healthy relationship with a man and was able to lean on his strength without losing herself. There were a few old story ideas that came up and mixed with new ones and this little thought synopsis for the story that ran through my head at midnight

A country at war.

A man whose life was changed on the battle field

A master of dark deeds.

Collide.

Fleeing for her life a price on her head.

A swordsman who has forgotten his faith

Meet by seeming chance

Battles ensues.

All must live…or die...

By the Sword

The original title was By The Sword, if that at all interests you.

4. Do you have any more projects in the works?

I always have something I am working on. I am going to try and refine a story that could possibly be part of a trilogy set in the old west. As well as playing around with a few different ideas that would expand my genres, and writing experience.

5. If you were to start over, what would you do differently? (Providing that you still had the knowledge of writing you do now?)

I am not sure what I would do differently, God writes each authors story to fit them so perfectly, it’s hard to say where I would like to improve. Really, it’s perfect, but I might put a little more courage in my soul, but it has all happened in God’s perfect timing, so I am content. Though one thing I will say is make sure you get a good editor, or be one.

6. Remembering when you were first starting out, what was the most important thing you were told, or learned along the way? 

Never give up. No matter how hopeless it seems, there is an audience out there for your book. And, Don’t write for the masses, not everyone will love your book, write for the few and far between who are like you, always looking for that ONE good book. Write with them in mind and you will be more satisfied then with the applause of thousands, and write for One person and One person alone. For at the end of the day, it won’t be the masses, your fans, your friends, or your family—it will be HIM, and that is all that matters, that you are pleasing and honoring Him.

7. What is the most valuable writing advice you can give to writers? 

Oh, there is a lot one can say, but instead of giving my own I would like to give some of the most influential people in my life...

Live and Write with:

No reserves.

No retreat.

No regrets.

--William Borden.

Cur Non (Why Not).

Lafayette family motto.

-Ysa-

Contest Results

I bet your here to see who won the kindle copy of Captive of Raven Castle. I won't keep you in suspense. =)  

First place goes to... Ruth Newton!!!

"There will always be the will of evil in this world. But if we choose to trust in the voice of the One whose will is stronger, then no matter what happens to us, we can know that everything will work out alright. No matter what happens."

Avery knows that everything is about to change when a new director takes control of her state. He promises everyone that the coming years will be secure and safe. But as strange tasks are assigned to different cities, Avery knows an attack is coming, not from the outside, but from within their own borders. 

She wants to speak out, but she lives haunted by a deadly mistake she made years before. As the intrigue grows deeper, Avery has to decide between protecting herself and her family, or revealing the hidden secrets behind the director. 

As the stakes are raised, Avery begins to see that hope can only be found in One, even when all ends are beyond her sight. Danger is closing in all around her, and Avery begins to see that she must learn to trust, or she won't survive what lies ahead. 

Second place goes to Gloria Newton!!

I’ve looked everywhere. What should I do now?

James Golding was separated from his parents in a raid by the savage Yillans many years ago. Most believe his parents could not have survived, and reject him as an orphan. He knows different, so he searches for them everywhere he can think of, but when he thinks all hope is lost, he discovers that a group of prisoners had been taken to a group of islands in the West. Catching a ride on a trading boat he travels the ocean, determined to find his parents. 

Embarking on a dangerous mission with a noble purposes, he will go to any lengths to be reunited with his family.

When he reaches the island, he is faced with dangerous creatures, enemy warriors and a strange companion. 

Will he find his parents? Or will he live his life alone and unwanted?

Enjoy the thrilling story of James’ journey as he learns to follow God’s voice and be led to the truth. 

Third place goes to the writer of Pirate Hunters! 

PIRATE HUNTERS

For years, pirates had terrorized the land of Vara. Using the ancient and mystical Gem of Shadows, they were unstoppable…until the arrival of the Pirate Hunters. Striking fast and hard, the Hunters delivered a devastating defeat to the Pirates by capturing the Gem of Shadows from them. Now the pirates are scattered.

            What Kyle Darrik wants most is to go on a voyage in his father’s ship. But when his father allows him to join the crew, things take a turn for the worse. The leader of the pirates, Zenik, captures the Pirate Hunters ship with only one purpose in mind: find the Gem of Shadows and use it to return the pirates to their former glory.

            Join Kyle and his friends in their race against time as they battle sea-dragons, sharks, and pirates, and learn to trust in God.

Thank you everyone for entering! See you next month! 

-Mikayla and Ysa-

  

Book review of Captive of Raven Castle

Today we have a review of Jessica Greyson's "Captive of Raven Castle! It was written by Michaela over at http://steppingtowardtheson.blogspot.com/ 

About the Book:
The troubled people of war-torn Chambria are on the brink of starvation, and a delicate princess with a recurring nightmare is their only hope. Alexandra knows that her value to her country consists mainly in her ability to marry well, but when she is kidnapped by the rebels and taken to meet the man claiming to be both Chambria’s true king and her real father, her entire world falls apart. Will Princess Alexandra be able to untangle the web of lies and discern who is the true king and her father?

My Thoughts:
When I heard that Jessica Greyson was coming out with a new book, I was absolutely ecstatic. I had loved her first book Annabeth's War, and was thrilled that she was coming out with a new book. So, I had super high expectations going into this book, and honestly, I wasn't let down a bit. In the beginning of the book, the main character, Cassandra/Alexandra was a bit of a snob, and I didn't like her a bit. However, as the story progressed, she grew on me, and by the end of the book, I admired her.

Like her other book Annabeth's War, this was an adventure story, and I really enjoyed the high- energy of this book. It had me captivated from start to finish, and I loved the way the story progressed. Jessica Greyson's working of the characters was wonderful. She made me love the good characters and hate the bad (Like anyone could like Archibald. Seriously. He was horrible). The story is not necessarily romance, but there are some romantic scenes in this book.

I really appreciate that there is no kissing or intimate romantic scenes. It makes me respect the characters and especially the authoress. There was a satisfying ending to the story which closed it up in such a wonderful way.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to read any more of Jessica Greyson's books. I'd recommend this book to those ages 13 and up.

Thank you Michaela for the reveiw!
-Mikayla-

Interveiw with Jessica Greyson

Today we have my favorite author, Jessica Greyson!!!!

Hello Jessica and welcome to Future Homeschool Authors!

Hello thank you so much for having me here!

First could you tell us a bit about yourself? 

I am the middle child in a family of three and was homeschooled all of my life. Reading and telling stories have always been a part of my life, they just actually make to paper now—most of the time. I love many things and enjoy creativity in many fields that include writing, graphic design and sewing.

What is your favorite book? 

Hope Sprang Up. A yet unpublished work by Elizabeth Ender.

Who's your favorite Author?

That would be Elizabeth Ender. She is a brilliant author, who manages to use words in to create worlds in ways that I’ve never dreamed and I really hope the world gets to see more of her work soon. Currently she has a short story out called Ransomed, it’s beautiful!

If you could meet one person who would it be? 

Oh, such a difficult question. There are so many people that I admire and love that I would love to meet. In current times, it would probably be one of my online blogging friends, but which one I am not sure! They are all so dear to me. However if I could travel back in history, I would want to meet the Marquis de Lafayette. He was one incredible man that most of history seems to have forgotten.

Can you tell us anything about the book you’re working on right now?

Becoming Hannah, is different than any other book I’ve written. I’ve really had to reach out of my comfort zone with this story, it being a little more along the lines of a boy meets girl and this is their love story, instead of action and adventure. To be honest, I almost skipped writing this book, but the two books I am working on, didn’t seem complete without it. Becoming Hannah also has a very different flavor from the other two books in the series so...it will be really interesting to see how it all plays out.

What was the best part of writing Captive of Raven Castle?

The characters were really awesome to work with, and made this book really fun to write. Though I tend to not put a heavy Christian emphasis in my books, I like to thread Christian themes throughout and the thread that this story chose is one of my very favorites.

How did you begin writing? 

About age 12 I asked God what He wanted me to do with my life. I wanted to be a wife and a mother, but in the years leading up to that time, and even during the years of raising little ones, I wanted something to keep my busy. He asked me to be His Ready Writer.  I told stories to myself, all the time, but I never considered writing them down. I hated writing. So it was a huge flip for me and I am so glad I did! I love writing now.

What inspired you to begin writing?  

Stories just started flowing for me. What pushed me to have the courage to finally publishing was the realization that there is really a lack of good books for girls with strong heroines in them. So thus Annabeth’s War, and Captive of Raven Castle came about.

What is your favorite genre? 

Historical fiction, no doubt about that.

Do you do any research for you books? If you do what are your main sources? 

I do very little research since I write something more along the lines of Historical Fantasy—but it’s really neither history nor fantasy. I take my love for history and just make up my own worlds, using different elements from historical time periods, which I do try to keep somewhat accurate and true to that time. One reader caught my character prancing about in French heels in the 12^th century, they were replaced with slippers.

What do you like most about writing? 

I love the first manuscript the best. The moment of inspiration in all of its flawed flawlessness of creation. I love it when my characters really get to talking, even if it is hard to contain them.

Any final thoughts? 

Thank you so much for your questions and I wish you the best  with your writing, and all of your beautiful ambitions!

Thank you so much for all your time! 

 -Mikayla-

March Contest

Good day everyone! 

This month were giving away Jessica Greyson's "Captive of Raven Castle!"

I have to admit hosting Jessica will be a lot of fun for me, as she is my favorite author. :)

To win "Captive of Raven Castle," you must write a synopsis for a story, like what would go on the back of a book. 

A few things to keep in mind:

--Try to keep your summery short and to the point. Remember, this is what will make people decide whether or not to read your book.

--The synopsis does not have to be for a book you have already written. 

--There is no word limit. However, we suggest you stay under 200 words. 

Send your finished entry to Futurehomeschoolauthors@gmail.com

First place gets the book, second and third place get posted on the blog. 

The contest ends the 19'th the results will be posted on the 26'th.

Not sure where to start? Here is the synopsis for "Captive of Raven's Castle!" 

 "The troubled people of war-torn Chambria are on the brink of starvation, and a delicate princess with a recurring nightmare is their only hope. Alexandra knows that her value to her country consists mainly in her ability to marry well, but when she is kidnapped by the rebels and taken to meet the man claiming to be both Chambria’s true king and her real father, her entire world falls apart. Will Princess Alexandra be able to untangle the web of lies and discern who is the true king and her father?"

-Mikayla-