tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91943249688885933852024-03-05T15:25:58.208-08:00Future Homeschool AuthorsMikayla Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860338066364366978noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-88627759776466083422015-09-02T05:00:00.000-07:002016-12-23T14:15:05.710-08:00An even deeper apoligyThis blog is closed down. The site will remain up, but no new content will be posted.<br />
<br />Mikayla Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860338066364366978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-40978617038481177892015-07-01T06:08:00.001-07:002015-07-01T06:08:20.313-07:00An apology Hello everyone. I am here to offer my sincere apology for disappearing for the whole month. I hadn't intended to do that. I'm not going to sit here and try to make excuses; I completely dropped the ball last month. Also, I'm having trouble pulling it all together for this month, which is why I've decided to take an extended break to pull the blog back together, so we will be back September 2'nd. Thank y'all for your patience, I really aperchiate it. Hopefully when we come back, we'll be even better for y'all!<br />
-Mikayla-Mikayla Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860338066364366978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-57406789854218371802015-05-30T05:00:00.000-07:002015-05-30T05:00:04.520-07:00Contest Results<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Hello, I'm here to announce the winner of The Haven by Cara Simmons. And it is....</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.carasimmons.com/uploads/1/0/3/6/10364606/s590710254311663841_p4_i1_w299.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://www.carasimmons.com/uploads/1/0/3/6/10364606/s590710254311663841_p4_i1_w299.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Mikayla L!!!!!! Congradulations!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Here is her entry and the poem it was based off of.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b>“If I
Can Stop One Heart From Breaking”</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> By Emily Dickinson<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><br /></span></div>
<i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background: white;">If I can stop one heart from
breaking,</span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background: white;">I shall not live in vain;</span></span></i></div>
<span style="background: white;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">If I can ease one life the aching,</span></span></i></div>
</span>
<span style="background: white;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Or cool one pain,</span></span></i></div>
</span>
<span style="background: white;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Or help one fainting robin</span></span></i></div>
</span>
<span style="background: white;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Unto his nest again,</span></span></i></div>
</span>
<span style="background: white;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">I shall not live in vain.</span></span></i></div>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I hurried along the cold
cobblestone streets, tucking my hands further into my muff, lined with soft
fur. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Hurry, Isaac! The
orphanage will be closed soon, and I want to drop the dresses off first!” I
called to my butler. He nodded, silently following me, the parcels in his arms
– many for the children, and one containing a beautiful dress that I simply
could not wait to wear to church come morn. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Work to stop only one heart from breaking, and
you will have not lived in vain, my dear.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My mother’s last words to
me echoed in my ears. My father was a wealthy Englishman, and as such, I was
spoiled beyond imagination. I made a habit of donating old clothes and toys to
the orphanage. Today I had a few big bags filled to the brim with items, and I
was excited that I would, once again, see their faces as they dug through my
old treasures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">We rounded another
corner, and I couldn’t keep the elated skip out of my step. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Hello, Madame Eva! How
happy we are to see you!” The plump old lady, Martha, who ran the orphanage
called, opening the door to the orphanage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I smiled, “Good evening!
How are the children?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Hello, Eva!” The
eighteen young girls in the building chorused. I waved hello, ducking into the
establishment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Martha chuckled, “They are
well, Madame.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I took the bags of
clothes from Isaac, passing them to the girls. “Enjoy!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It was then I noticed a new
girl, a girl about my age, sitting in a corner, a sullen, angry look on her
face, despair and longing in her eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Hello! My name is Eva
Gertrude Edwards. What is your name?” I asked, smiling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">She frowned, “My name is
Genevieve.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“I haven’t seen you here
before.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“That would be because my
parents were just killed in an accident. They were coming home from town in
their carriage.” She said quietly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“I’m so sorry,
Genevieve.” I said, then wasting no time to second guess myself, I reached for
her hand, “You know, Genevieve, I brought a special dress just for you.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Pulling her to her feet,
I practically had to drag her across the room to Isaac. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Isaac, may I have the
package we purchased earlier?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He passed it to me, and I
handed it to Genevieve. “It will suit you quite well, I think.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I bit my lip, partially
regretting the choice. That feeling washed away as soon as Genevieve opened the
parcel, drawing out the sapphire blue dress, with the slippers and handbag to
match, the new muff resting atop. Her eyes lit up. She looked at me curiously. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Madame Eva, are you sure
you wish me to have this?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I smiled encouragingly at
her, “Of course! And please, just Eva will do.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Then the longing in her
eyes was replaced with excitement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">That evening, walking
through the beautiful London streets, I didn’t think twice about the beautiful
dress I had given up. I could only think of the surprise, the happiness, on
Genevieve’s face, and that fact that, at least momentarily, I had eased the
aching soul inside one girl. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Your mother would have
been proud.” Isaac said, as if reading my thoughts, his kind face and bright
eyes smiling at me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Well, then, I have not lived in vain.</span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 17.1200008392334px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17.1200008392334px; text-align: center;">
<b>Second place goes to... John! Thank you for your entry! </b></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17.1200008392334px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17.1200008392334px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">“Courtney, I’m home!” I said as I walked through the door in our downtown apartment. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">“Hi Bret!” My wife of two years entered the front room and gave me a hug. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">“You’ll never guess what happened!” I could barely contain my excitement.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">“What?” she asked.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">“I got a $5,000 bonus! My manager has been really happy with my work and the owner of the company even called and told me that I was getting promoted!”</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">“Oh my goodness!” Courtney was just as ecstatic as I was.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">“God’s really been helping me exceed and be successful and now everyone sees it. We can finally start planning for that dream vaction--” I was cut off by a knock on the door. I opened it and there stood a man who lived one street over. I had only talked with a few times and I knew he was going through some hard financial times. His family wasn’t always the best dressed and his car wasn’t the nicest but he had good character. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">He cleared his throat before speaking in a soft voice. “Mr. Johnson-” </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">He didn’t need to finish. I knew what he was going to say. Even before he started talking, I knew what God wanted me to do. “Here, Mark.” I said as pressed the envelope that was still in my hand into his. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">“Thank you.” he said with face beaming. “You’re very kind.” </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">“God bless,” I replied. He turned and walked down the street. Once I closed the door, I realized what I had just done, but I didn’t regret it.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">“You gave your bonus.” My wife observed. I lifted my gaze from the floor to her face and was surprised to see her smiling at me. “You did the right thing and I’m proud of you, even if we don’t get to go on that dream vacation just yet.”</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">“It was worth it. Now, come on let’s go celebrate!”</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">IF I CAN STOP ONE HEART FROM BREAKING</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">If I can stop one heart from breaking,</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">I shall not live in vain;</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">If I can ease one life the aching,</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Or cool one pain,</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Or help one fainting robin</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Unto his nest again,</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">I shall not live in vain.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">By Emily Dickinson</span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>It seems this was a popular poem to use! </b></div>
<div>
<b>Thank you to everyone who entered!</b></div>
<div>
<b> -Mikayla</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Mikayla Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860338066364366978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-76087716726101179102015-05-13T05:00:00.000-07:002015-05-14T06:23:49.935-07:00Interview with Cara Simmons!<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Today we have an interview with Cara Simmons, author of <i>The Haven</i>!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Hello Cara and welcome to Future Homeschool Authors!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span>
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C9CEOiyIvoM/Uj2bXXJ6f9I/AAAAAAAAADA/8Gjr7saTOeQ/w540-h545-no/IMG_9613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C9CEOiyIvoM/Uj2bXXJ6f9I/AAAAAAAAADA/8Gjr7saTOeQ/w540-h545-no/IMG_9613.jpg" width="395" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>First could you tell us a bit about yourself?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I am a native of New England and I especially love the Green Mountains of Vermont, having grown up there. I live in Connecticut now, with my wonderful husband of 17 years this month, and five great treasures from God - ages fifteen down to seven years old. I began homeschooling in 5th grade, back in the day when it was a foreign and unknown thing to do. I became a homeschool graduate in 1993 and moved on to take a few community college courses, worked different temp jobs, and then met my husband and we married in 1998. I homeschooled my children for about five years, and then they began to go to a private Christian School, where I became a Kindergarten teacher. I have written three books in a series called The Orphans of Mordecai's Castle Series and hope to write more books very soon. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Why did you decided to be an author? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I have always enjoyed writing, even from the time I was a little girl. I can remember sitting in one of my favorite trees with my best friend and we were talking about what we wanted to be when we grew up. I still remember saying, "I want to write a book someday." I always had a story at the back of my mind, but in 2006 I began to finally make time to get it out of my head an onto the paper. I felt it was time to share my adventures with the world around me, and God gave me the go ahead. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Whats your favorite book? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> My favorite book/s are by Francine Rivers: The Mark of the Lion Series. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Who's your favorite Author?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Francine Rivers (as mentioned above) She has such a way with words that I soak in everything she says and hope that one day I will be able to write and express myself just like she does. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Can you tell us anything about the book your working on right now?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I am working on two different projects. One is a children's book about two little snails, and another is a story based on my childhood, though the main character will be a fictional one. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What were the best and worst parts of writing The Haven?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I loved how the characters grew to be close friends to me as I wrote their story. I held their future in my hands and so when it came to have to quit writing for the day, I became very agitated knowing they were stuck in a predicament. It was only by my writing their next pages that they were able to get out and overcome their situation. The writing was the best part. Most of the time the story flowed, but there were a few times when I got stuck and did not know where the story was going to go. The worst part was the editing...over and over and over again. I had to read and reread the story until I could not see any more mistakes. Then I had to give it to someone else to look over so they could see the mistakes I missed. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What is your favorite genre? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> For reading? I like historic fiction, romance, and adventure. For writing? I like writing about adventures of young people that possibly could be me; real life events. Oh, and animals. I love animal stories. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Do you do any research for your books? If you do, what are your main sources? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I have done a little for my three books. I mainly looked online for information about the time period the books took place, as well as other things such as the luminescent rocks mentioned in my books. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What do you like most about writing? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> It is doing something I love. I find it relaxing. I like how creative I can be, and how I can watch a story from my head come to life on the page of a book, then in turn, I can share it with the world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Any final thoughts? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> My encouragement to other writers is do not fret about how the whole process of publication will work. If you have an idea, just write. Get it onto the paper. If you do not have much time, like me, take little bits of time here and there and write when you can. Keep a notebook in your purse or pocket and write your thoughts down when you get inspired. You will forget them if you don't! God will work out everything in His perfect time, and He will reward you with something great in due time. Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts. May God bless you as endeavor to serve Him in all you do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b>See more about Cara at http://www.carasimmons.com/</b>Mikayla Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860338066364366978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-74916256454059170662015-05-09T19:12:00.001-07:002015-05-09T19:12:30.069-07:00May ContestSUMMER! SUMMER IS HERE! Ok. Sorry. I'm a little excited. Now to this month's contest! We will be giving away a paperback copy of <i>The Heaven </i>by Cara Simmons<i> </i>to the first place winner! Second and Third place will get posted on the blog along with First place!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://www.carasimmons.com/uploads/1/0/3/6/10364606/s590710254311663841_p4_i1_w299.jpeg" /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
This is a really simple, yet very interesting contest! Please pick one of your favorite poems, and write a short story based off, or inspired by this poem. We are excited to see your entries; please send them to futurehomeschoolauthors@gmail.com. The Contest ends on the 24'th and the results will be published on the 30'th.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-52090585883668388232015-04-29T15:38:00.000-07:002015-04-29T15:38:06.155-07:00Contest Results <div style="text-align: center;">
Hello everyone! The winner of this months contest and of Orphan Song by Gillian Adams is....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5ERWk67WKcn_rANNpgdQRUu1b3MNtIW3pRXLTtSCGMKN-pFuQkRzTicDzNd_WPBy9O9tEwliL3oRunwTW8H4XNFnFUjXViNAkxJmaBQuGHQogyTHdAAARCQYIeMhUCeX4cuQt7kVZnw/s320/Orphan's%2BSong--Front%2BCover%2B02.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Clare Farrelly!!! </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Congratulations</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;"> Clare!</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Her entry:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carousel </span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Eyes wide with excitement and mouths agape the twins walked towards the carousel. The moment they had wished for all their short lives had come. They stood with many other children in front of the greatest carousel in all of Kayoklutosni. A week ago their lives had changed in a moment when Father walked into the room announcing that the fair had arrived in town and he had bought tickets for the last night. Gillian had dropped her book with a thud and Colin had been gabby about the fair ever since. </span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The sun lingered in the sky, glinting off the magnificent scrollwork and shining on the smooth carousel creatures. Everyone knew they did not really exist, but one could almost believe that they could, or did once, the two young children found it especially easy. These creatures, unicorns some called them, were so beautiful, nothing like the camels everyone rode, or the twargs and goats. They were daintier, nobler, than any real creature. The colour of the twisting pole of each beast corresponded to their one twisted horn that glowed in the sunlight.</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Children clambered onto the carousel, the line grew rapidly shorter as children left to choose a mount, Colin glanced at Gillian with eyes shining. “We’ll be on next round Jill; will you take one on the outside row? I want one on the inside that moves up and down as well as round.”</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“D’know Col, any’ll do, I just wish they were real, that we had creatures like that in Kayoklutosni. Wouldn’t riding one of those be grand, one that really moved.”</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“How would you stay on though? There’s no hump to hold onto and their horn is too far forwards,” Col replied.</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Oh I think if they were t’let us, then we wouldn’t fall, they’d make sure of that,” Jill whispered.</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The unicorns began to spin slowly around, the inside two rows rising up and down again. Faster and faster they spun, until if you watched just one place a creature could be seen, white, striding along tossing its head, moving through the poles as if in a dance. The laughter and shouts of children’s joy echoed out, mingling with the song and strings of a jet black haired harpist sitting against a nearby tree. Watching adults smiled, listening to the music while their children enjoyed the carousel. </span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">All too soon the music faded and the mysterious unicorn disappeared. The carousel became still once again, except for the children swarming off it. Col grabbed his sister’s hand and ran towards the carousel. </span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Col twisted between the unicorns until he came to one wearing green. A light green saddle rested on a darker cloth with silver tassels hanging from the edges. Col smiled and ran his hand over the beast’s neck feeling the hard smoothness and then touching the real leather and cloth. </span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I wonder why all your outfit’s not made of the same cool, hard stuff as you are? Perhaps to make it feel more real. I would think that having real tack makes you much harder to clean.” Col thought back to the many evenings he spent beside his father polishing metal buckles and rubbing fat into leather until it shone. Col settled himself into the saddle and reached forward to touch the headstall. Fine chains of what looked almost like real silver and the softest shimmering cords made up the headstall. He sat back and straightened his shoulders. Fitted out with such finery, he could be a lord riding on a steed.</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jill likewise sat upon an elegant beast. It had a delicate halter of gold thread and chain, with pink flowers twined into it. A real beast, Jill thought, would snap such delicate straps in moments. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, a slight fragrance wafted through the air. Jill glanced around with narrowed eyes. Why, she wondered, should she smell flowers, here in the middle of a fair? She looked again at the flowers in the halter, in the dusk light they could be real, leaning closer to them she thought the smell grew stronger. Jill climbed up and stood on the saddle, leaning along the creature’s neck she breathed in. The smell certainly came from the flowers. Yet how could it? </span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">She leaned out further. Music started and the ride jolted forwards. With a shriek Jill crashed down and landed beside the pearly pink hooves of her unicorn. Yells came from watching adults and children around her. For a moment she just lay there, and then a hand grasped her arm, hauling her up. She caught a glimpse of the unicorns soft blue eyes, then found herself looking into two beady brown eyes. </span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Young un get off now, we can’t have the ride disturbed.” The tall, beared man in long boots hauled Jill off the carousel and dumped her a fair distance away before she even had time to protest. As the man marched back to the carousel Jill called after him, “Wait please Sir, please.” </span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The man did not even turn around. Jill fell to the dusty ground. One drop of salty water trickled slowly down her face followed by others. </span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">From where Col sat he had a good view of the whole event. For a moment he looked at his sister then back to the beautiful white beast. His little hands twisted around the pole that held up his steed and made it fly. He bit his lip then swung his leg over the unicorn and slid down. Giving it one last pat he wound his way between the other elegant creatures towards his sister, just as the music began again.</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">They sat together; Col wound his fingers around Jill’s. Together they listened to the music and watched the unicorns dance around again, whirling faster and faster. Clothes and tassels flapped, children screamed, some in joy others with fright at the speed, and again the mysterious beast appeared just for a moment galloping on the spot. </span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Children tumbled off and more ran to get places. Col and Jill went back to their parents. Jill whispered, “Somehow it would not be the same, maybe later we can ride it.” A strange sadness filled the hearts and minds of the two youngsters, it may be thought to have come from the fact that they were taken from their ride, that is not so, it came from something much deeper, they themselves had no idea. Jill could not dispel the look in the unicorn’s blue eyes from her mind.</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stalls were set up everywhere, banners rippled out from poles and trees. The glow of illumstones became more noticeable. The family walked into a nearby stall. The children forgot their sorrow upon seeing the beautiful trinkets. Jill at once moved over to look at an unusual object which, upon inspection, turned out to be a miniature carousel, with only four unicorns prancing around it. They were encased in a hard substance. Jill lifted it carefully, as she moved it, silver and gold sparkles floated around the animals, her mouth parted in wonder. “So beautiful,” she whispered.</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">A small round man, the stall keeper, hurried over and snatched the carousel from her hands. “That, my dear, is not for sale. That, little one is real gold and silver it is made from, and the stone casing, well, no one except a great lord,” The man gestured vaguely northwards and flung his arms wide.</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">A magnificent crash made everyone cringe; Jill jumped back as fragments of the tiny carousel hit her. The man’s dark face grew darker. He glared at his hand which still held the gold and silver base, and then back towards a tent pole behind him. His mouth opened and shut a few times, Jill backed further, and her foot kicked something as she ducked behind Father. Stooping she picked the small object up. At the same moment Col gazed in astonishment at the piece of carousel that had literally flown across the room into his hands. A tiny white figure of a unicorn decked with gold and silver lay shining on his palm.</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mother and father never noticed the little figures in their son’s and daughter’s hands as they pushed them out of the stall before them. They all wandered around the fair looking upon many wonders and great sights, but soon it grew very late and they went to an inn beside where the fair sprouted. The distance to their own house was not great but dark cloaked men roamed the roads at night. </span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Col and Jill looked out the window; they could both just glimpse the carousel. Then they slipped off their shoes and snuggled next to each other, listening to their parents breathing and the minstrels at the fair. A model unicorn lay with fingers curled around it; the other poked its head out of a pocket in Col’s shirt. Many parts of the fair grew silent and were packed away, ready to travel off the next day. All the inns and drink-houses in the town overflowed. Of the minstrels by the carousel only the harpist played, softly, ever so softly. The music wound it way into the night, calling.</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The greater moon rose up, closely followed by the second. Silver light spilled through the open window and splashed down onto the children’s bed. Jill sat upright as something prickled at her hand, light shone from between her fingers. She nudged Col, and pressed a finger to her lips. The two tiny unicorns glittered in the moonlight, glowing of themselves. </span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Four little feet pattered across the floor and slipped into shoes then out the door. Two faces peered into a lighted room then backed away and padded out a different, smaller door, out onto cobbles that reflected back the moonlight. Not a word passed between the children as they crept through the trunks of great trees towards the fair.</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">One illumstone shone white into the shadows. The minstrel sat near it and another lady moved noiselessly towards the carousel. The minstrel jumped as Col stepped on something, her music, though, did not falter. Jill and Col followed the other lady onto the carousel. A white light reflected off the young lady’s silver dress, she moved among the carousel poles running her hand up each creature’s horn.</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Turning, she gazed a moment at the children. Jill stepped up next to her, “They are so sad. Can we help?” she whispered. The lady’s eyes sparkled. </span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Keeping her voice low the lady replied, “Yes, help me get their halters off.” Her eyes went to Col’s pocket.</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jill held out her hand with the shining figure in it, “Are these yours?”</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“No dearest, but they are a sign. Keep them, and guard them well.” The lady’s pure white hair fell glimmering over her shoulder as she bent and closed Jill’s fingers around the unicorn.</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jill, Col and the white lady moved among the carousel beasts, and the harpist played. Col struggled with a silver buckle, but finally it undid and he slipped one halter off. He put it over his arm and slipped another off. Jill watched the woman, she had only to touch a halter and it slid off or broke with a tinkle. She placed each one into a pouch at her side.</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the last halter jingled into the bag, the lady spoke again, “You may hop on if you like, they won’t mind.” She motioned to the carousel beasts. </span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Who won’t? Jill wondered, but she did not intrude on the sound of the music which now swelled, humming along shafts of moonlight. The carousel began to spin, faster and faster. Wind whipped saddle cloths and tassels and gripped at the children’s delighted grins, the mystical unicorn appeared. This time something different happened though. The creature galloped forwards. Loud cracking and snapping noises pierced the night. Both children felt a strange warmth under them. Hair blew into Jill’s face, and she lost grip of the twisted pole. Her hands found only soft hide of an animal and hair, long thick, silver hair. Jill’s teeth clacked together as hooves hit the ground. Wide eyed, Jill looked at the moonlight shimmering all around her. The moonlight had hair and legs, hooves and bodies. Jill felt herself slipping and grabbed larger handfuls of the hair. The saddle fell to the ground, but Jill stayed astride. Col, on one of the inner unicorns had not yet broken free. </span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">All the beasts that had transformed cavorted around, making it hard for Jill to see exactly what happened. In a moment all the creatures were free. Shouts came from the town, focused illumstones flashed out into the moonlight. Jill noticed that the music had stopped, and the black haired minstrel completely disappeared. People came running. The unicorns ran too, with the same speed that the carousel had turned at before. The last coloured saddle and blanket thumped to the ground. Forty nine gleaming unicorns disappeared into the trees. All glowed white except for the one which had a mane and tail black as the deepest shadow. That one had a different horn to the rest and also still carried a pack of some kind, very oddly shaped.</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Col and Jill found themselves standing just outside the entrance of the inn they had crept out of only minutes before. The white lady touched each of their heads. “Guard your charges well, they are not living but they have power, when you are older you may find it. Peace now, in you go.”</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The twins crept back into the inn. Out the window they thought they saw a last flash of silver hair and heard hoof beats, yet not a trace of the lady that just bid them farewell. “Unless,” Jill and Col whispered in the same breath, “Unless…” They both looked at each other sharing the thought. As sleep pushed their eyelids closed, a fiftieth unicorn, whiter even than the others, and with a smooth horn, galloped in the direction of the others.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Second place goes to... Mikayla L!! </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Thinking back on that fateful day, I wonder if it was all avoidable, or if it was an inevitable clash between two worlds, each denying the existence of the other. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Amidst the raging fire, the door stood. Though the fire destroyed everything else around it, the door stood unharmed. Walking around it, it was only a door, standing solitarily, alone besides the trees, though they would soon be reduced to ashes. But upon opening the door, I discovered a whole new world, one where my past as an outcast, an orphan, would be forgotten, unknown. A world where things were different from everything I’d ever known. Upon discovering it, I felt chills race down my spine. Whether they were from delight or terror, I did not yet know. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Upon stepping through it, I discovered that once you go through, you can never return from whence you came. I know, because as soon as my feet passed into the other world, the door disappeared behind me.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>***</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I jumped up, turning to where the door should have been, but there was nothing. A knot of fear settled in my stomach as I glanced wildly at my surroundings. In my earlier state of cafard, I hadn’t considered the possibility that I could never get back to my home, dull as it was, in Australia. I never dreamed that maybe I could get stuck on the other side. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Gathering my wits, I took in the tall trees. I did a double take. The trees were purple. Odd. Not only that, but they had large, stone like objects hanging off of them. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Slowly I began walking, the sun beating down on me through the trees. I glanced up and shivered. Not one, but two suns hung in the sky above me. At least the sky was blue, like normal. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“I want to go home.” I mumbled. But I had no home, not really. The sewers weren’t fit to be called home. But at least they were familiar, unlike this strange land I had stumbled upon. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I heard hoof beats. They grew louder quickly, and I fought between the want to hide, in case it was danger, and the want to wait, in case it was help. Finally, the feeling in my gut won, and I scrambled up on of the trees. They were rather slick, and it took me a moment to get the method down: grab on with my legs, push up, grab on with my arms, and then pull my legs up after me. Just as I reached a good height, a group of cloaked figures on horseback came into sight. The one who I guessed to be the leader pulled his horse to a stop, directly below me. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“She’s there.” He pointed to the tree. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Within the second, his men had crossbows pointed at me. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“Who are you?” </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“No, dear girl, the question is, who are you?”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I hesitated before answering, “Calypso.” </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The man laughed, but it was a cold, fake laugh, one that sent shivers down my spine, “That’s not your name, girl.”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“I wish it was.”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“What is your real name? And of what race are you?” He asked, his horse prancing beneath him. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“My real name is Isabella. And I’m human. But what are you?” I asked, my curiosity, as always, getting the better of me. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“I am the one, I believe, in power currently. So listen to what I have to say. You are a princess in this land, lost to a strange world long ago. However, now that throne is mine to inherit. So, you see, we have a problem. If the faeries know you are back, they will stop at nothing to get you back to the throne, but I’d rather I have it.”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I kept silent, but the statement startled me. I grew up deprived of everything I wanted, fighting to survive. And I was to believe that in this land, I was a princess? An arrow lodged itself into the branch, inches from my hand. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I probably would do best to stay alive, else the throne would do me no good. So I slipped back to the trunk of the tree, deeper into the branches, where he couldn’t see me. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>His voice, eerily calm, filled the forest. “Burn it.” </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I hadn’t thought of that. One of his men kneeled at the trunk of the tree, with two pieces of stone, different from any in Australia. But as soon as he began tapping them together, a spark flew out of it. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Think. Searching my mind for any idea, any at all, I came up blank.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Then I got it. The man (you know, the one who wanted me dead) sat straight on his horse, directly below me. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I grabbed one of the stones, which was satisfyingly heavy. Then I threw it at his head, which was satisfyingly in range. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I ducked back as he let out a howl of pain. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“Burn it. Now!” He said with renewed anger. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I chucked another rock at his head. Again, he shouted, this time pulling away from the tree. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“Burn it and you’ll get a few rather large lumps on your head, and I’ll still escape.” I said to the figure at the bottom of the tree. He ignored me. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Down dropped another stone. Up came another shout. Onto the tree flew the sparks. Then the tree ignited. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I didn’t expect the fire to spread as fast as it did, but within moments it was feet from me. The flames engulfed me. I glanced one last time into the dark, angry eyes of the man below, then, surprisingly without pain, drifted into unconsciousness. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>***</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The fire raged, and the door stood unharmed. Warily, I walked around it. Once again, nothing. The dream, each time ending the same way, no matter what I did to alter it, had haunted me for weeks. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>But today was not a dream. Today, I was awake. I knew, because the lump on my head from walking into a doorframe earlier that day still throbbed. In the dream I could never feel pain. I had finally found the door, the one that I had dreamed about for weeks. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Did I have anything to stay in Australia for? No. Did I want to go through it? Not particularly. Did I know what I would find, now that I was finally awake? I hoped it wasn’t the same as the dream. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Despite the fear that had settled in my stomach, I took a deep breath and pulled it open. The scent of the forest filled my lungs. The purple trees greeted me. The sun and its twin seemed to smile encouragingly at me. At for reasons that I would not understand for a long time, I stepped through the door, into the world on the other side. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>One day, a long time from now, I would understand the reason why I did it. One day, my great-grandchildren would hear stories about the strange land on the other side. One day, I would be accepted. One day, I would be a legend.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Third Place Goes to... Victoria Marinov</div>
<br />
<i>“Please Agnes, couldn't you just try?”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Agnes frowned at the Mars wasteland outside the window before turning to her friend.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Carl, just because I'm a princess doesn't mean--”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“It's not that you're a princess. You're Moriah's friend and she'll listen to you.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“I was her friend,” Agnes corrected. “And that was a long time ago.” She sighed. Her return to Mars just had to be marred with this. Not that she had anything against Carl. He was a good friend, but he had been desperate to win that contest. Now he was asking the impossible of her.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“What happened that you're not friends anymore?”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Does it matter?”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Excuse me, your highness.” the footman had come in. “Your cousins are here--” he could not finish his sentence, for two brown-haired children rushed into the sitting room. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Ness!” the little girl exclaimed and attempted to climb up the princess, while the boy grasped onto her arms. “Tell us all about Earth!”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Yeah, and what were the streets without covers like?”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“And the ocean? Did you go to the ocean?”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>With a laugh Agnes assured them that she would tell them everything about Earth. She cast an apologetic look at Carl.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“I'll think about it,” she said quietly. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>He shrugged and went out. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Agnes and her two cousins sat down on the couch and she told them all about Holland and England and the open-air streets. The younger ones were especially enthralled by the descriptions of the birds that flew freely in the air. On her phone Agnes showed them pictures of the beach, and gave them seashells she had collected. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>However through all this time, behind her facade, thoughts and phrases whirred in her head. Carl's concerned voice – I'm pretty sure there was a judging fraud – my family needs the money – I worked so hard – you were friends with Moriah Jenkins – can't you ask her to investigate it? – However it was the emotions from so long ago which jabbed pain in Princess Agnes' heart. How could you – it' not my fault – you're not my friend anymore.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>These emotions and words and many more swirled in Agnes' head, and the storm inside swelled when her cousins left. She stood at the large window, and looked out at the Mars landscape over which sunset was falling.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>It was so ugly compared to Earth. On earth there was green – there was life. Birds flew, and the sky wasn't a hazy pink, but a brilliant blue. One could actually go outside and feel the grass, hear the birds, and smell the flowers. Biologists at the laboratories where still working hard, trying to find a way for plants to grow on the red Martian soil – they were trying to introduce the beauty here – but they couldn't. Agnes missed the beauty back on Earth.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>She also missed the beauty which had been in her heart until Carl reminded her of Moriah Jenkins. Now Agnes' heart felt like Mars. Ugly, scarred, and unyielding to the beauty which others were trying to plant in it. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>It had not been her fault. It was Moriah's jealously. That was what Agnes told herself. But what if it was her own fault?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Agnes sat by the window for hours, thinking. Finally she stood up and called for her bodyguard.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“I need to go to the technological institute tomorrow,” she said.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>~</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Behind her the noise of beeping machines and drones sounded as Agnes stood in front of the office door. She swallowed. I do it or I don't. She lifted her hand and forced it against the beeper. For Carl. I'll do it for him. A bidding to enter sounded from inside, so Agnes opened the door and stepped into her ex-friend's office. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Moriah's back was turned away from the door, and Agnes marveled at the raven-black waves falling down the young woman's back. Moriah had always been the pretty one, and yet always the pariah. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“I'll be with you in a moment --” Moriah turned around and her gaze widened into amazement when she saw Agnes standing at the door. However she quickly recovered.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Ness – Princess,” she said. “What do you want?”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“I've come here on behalf of a friend of mine,” crookedly answered Agnes.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Oh?”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“He was in one of the contests you organized.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Which one?”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Um, I think it was the mail delivery drone-building one.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Concept design?”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Ja.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Moriah shuffled through some papers. “And what does your friend want?”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“He says there was a judging fraud.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Does he have proof?”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Some, I believe. He really wants to win.” Agnes added hopefully. In truth, she was surprised at how smoothly their conversation was going.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“And why is he so desperate to win?”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“His sister can't walk and his family needs money to go to Earth for surgery.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Well, that changes things. What's his name?”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Carl Lauwens.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Very well, I will contact him about it.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Moriah didn't seem eager to continue talking, so Agnes turned to the door. However her heart beat rapidly with nervousness. She wished she had forgotten the other reason she had come here.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Moriah? I – nothing, never mind.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Ness.” Moriah's sharp voice brought back memories – painful memories. “What is it?”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Agnes turned around, trying to bring herself to do what she wanted to. “Will – will you forgive me? For what happened?” she broke down weakly. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Moriah's face did not change. “I already have,” she finally said.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“You – you have?”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“I realized that it really wasn't your fault. George would've died anyway.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Finally after a silence Agnes couldn't hold it any longer and threw her arms around her once-friend. She finally unattached herself and left without a word, for she was crying.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>~</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Congratulations, Carl!” Henri, Agnes' brother, said.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Carl was grinning from ear to ear. “Thanks.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Your highness.” Agnes turned to the footman. “A Miss Moriah Jenkins to see you.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Let her in.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Moriah entered the sitting room, accompanied by two other assistants. She smiled at everyone's greetings and offered Carl congratulations.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Thank you for bringing that judging fraud to my attention. Also one of the groups at the institute are considering building your design,” she added. “And I can fund you so you can get a patent.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“They are? You can?” Carl's eyes shone with excitement.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Moriah laughed. A strained laugh, but a lovely thing nevertheless. “When are you leaving for Earth?” she inquired.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Next month,” said Carl. “I'm really excited.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>After smiling at him, Moriah turned to Agnes, who had been standing quietly to the side, and said,</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“I'm having a small party thing for my birthday on Thursday – would you like to come?”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Agnes opened her mouth, but no words came out. “Well – I – I – I would love to,” she finally said.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Alright then. Come at three o'clock. You remember where I live?”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“Yes, I do.” Agnes said with a smile.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>When everyone had left, Agnes went and sat at the window. Her thoughts whirled with joy and confusion and hope and beauty. There was a certain freedom inside her – a freedom she had not felt for – ever since her friendship with Moriah had been broken because of the accident. Her soul and heart danced in the sunshine of her emotion.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“It's rather ugly; isn't it?” Her brother had sat down by her. He gazed out onto the bare Mars landscape. A weak haboob had passed by earlier, and clouds of dust had settled in the air. Far off to the horizon Agnes could just make out the last rays of the sun setting behind the western mesas. </i><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thank you to everyone who partisapated!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Mikayla-</div>
Mikayla Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860338066364366978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-45259786997226280842015-04-01T13:33:00.000-07:002015-04-27T17:57:20.497-07:00April ContestHi everyone. I can't believe it is already April! This is my last month of school until I will be cramming for tests... and then..... wait for it.... SUMMER!!!!! We will be giving away a copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Orphans-Songkeeper-Chronicles-Gillian-Bronte/dp/1621840352/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427572347&sr=8-1&keywords=orphans+song">Orphan's Song</a> to the winner and posting their story, along with second and third place on the blog!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5ERWk67WKcn_rANNpgdQRUu1b3MNtIW3pRXLTtSCGMKN-pFuQkRzTicDzNd_WPBy9O9tEwliL3oRunwTW8H4XNFnFUjXViNAkxJmaBQuGHQogyTHdAAARCQYIeMhUCeX4cuQt7kVZnw/s1600/Orphan's%2BSong--Front%2BCover%2B02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5ERWk67WKcn_rANNpgdQRUu1b3MNtIW3pRXLTtSCGMKN-pFuQkRzTicDzNd_WPBy9O9tEwliL3oRunwTW8H4XNFnFUjXViNAkxJmaBQuGHQogyTHdAAARCQYIeMhUCeX4cuQt7kVZnw/s1600/Orphan's%2BSong--Front%2BCover%2B02.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
This month we are going to do a different type of contest. I am going to give you the genre and a few other ideas and then you can choose one and fly with it in any way you like! Your story can be any length you would like (within reason;).<br />
<br />
<b>Choose one from each category:</b><br />
<br />
<b>Genre:</b><br />
Science Fiction<br />
Action<br />
Historical Fiction<br />
Comedy<br />
Fantasy<br />
Mystery<br />
<br />
<b>Main Character:</b><br />
Outcast<br />
Royalty<br />
A race other than human (fictional)<br />
Under age 10 or over age 50<br />
Twin<br />
Super Smart<br />
<br />
<b>Location:</b><br />
Australia<br />
Antarctica<br />
Indian Ocean<br />
Mars<br />
Great Britain<br />
Kayoklutosni (random made up place;)<br />
<br />
<b>Word to include (you may have to look up the definitions:) :</b><br />
Amphibian<br />
Baseball<br />
Cafard<br />
Gabby<br />
Haboob<br />
<br />
When you are done please email your short stories to futurehomeschoolauthors@gmail.com. Enjoy! I think it shall be quite fun to read these entries!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-29019437457518457282015-03-31T07:20:00.000-07:002015-03-31T07:20:25.426-07:00Contest Results<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Hello everyone, I'm here to announce the winner of Radialloy by J.Grace Pennington! =D</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPMF7mjWp_3XNshZvJmd3P3uA4rHwSGFyz5lGYXDnaVd7ZUNUTfYMyWnZucY3yRD1n6uGL0nEbDB5CO1hw2MW9JOBex5EzUbBjvwC7u66FIQCYhtHGT5LUuNmdftHdqHkx4zr0sRkgfE/s400/51Gwhjo3cgL.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
And the winner is..... Mikayla L!!! Congratulations!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Here is her entry;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Greed. It was always there. I just wished that it didn’t have to come out like this.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Griselda, please! Help me!” Sukie called, her dirty face streaked with tears. I took one glance between the girl and the pouch of money.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Sorry, Sukie.” I smiled grimly, the pinch of guilt I felt quickly fading, “But we can’t have everything we want, can we?” </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>This monster, called greed, ever present in my life, had reared its ugly head, and Sukie was paying the price. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I looked the young girl, the girl who had journeyed with me through thick and thin, in the eyes. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Griselda! Griselda, don’t leave me here to die.” The young girl begged. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Once again, I pulled my gaze away from her, to the two fat guards holding her. “Do your job right, and make sure she is delivered to Lord André immediately.” </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Aye, girl, we will.” The guard, Red, said, pulling Sukie to her feet. He spat a glob of tobacco onto the cobblestone path. Disgusting. I thought, as he and his companion turned to go, dragging the frail child after them.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Wait.” I called out. As they stopped, I bit my tongue. I had what I wanted. I was a bounty hunter; this was what I did for a living. Why show pity now, after delivering hundreds of others without question? </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“What does your master want with the girl?” I asked, feigning boredom. If they thought I really cared, they would never tell me. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The first guard, Blake, who’s head greatly resembled a tomato, smirked, “Her family has a good position in a town called Cery. His lordship needs leverage to help her father see eye to eye with Lord André… say, why do you care? You got your money, now be gone.” It had suddenly dawned upon the oaf that he shouldn’t give away the plan of his master.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Sorry, just asking out of curiosity.” I said, turning and starting down the path. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Griselda!” I heard Sukie cry, her gentle voice breaking. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>It had been the first time since I began my work as a bounty hunter that I had ever worked to gain the targets trust, and an unfamiliar feeling tugged at me. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Pity? No way. I was beyond that. Or so I thought.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>My mind whirled, as I looked between the tall trees of the surrounding forest and the fast pace of the guards, their massive forms dragging the weak, frail one behind them. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>An idea was beginning to form. Maybe I could have everything I wanted. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Tying the satchel of money to my belt loop, I started to the woods. Following at a safe distance, planning my move, and wishing that I had just left Sukie and gone home to my cabin, I kept a steady pace. For nearly two hours this went on, and I waited patiently for my chance, watching the tension leaving the guards. We were nearing Mireworth, though, so I knew I didn’t have much time left.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Come on, girl!” Red shouted, pulling her wrist hard enough that she fell to the ground, her knee smacking against the stone. Sukie cried out in pain, and anger raced through me. They would pay for that. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I wondered why I cared. Maybe it was Sukie’s sweet nature, her innocence, her willingness to trust anyone who praised her. Somehow, though, I knew that there was no way I would let Sukie be treated poorly by anyone. Unless, of course, it was me, the one who betrayed her. I winced at the thought.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Sukie struggled to her feet, and I readied myself to act, pulling my dagger from my belt.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“You know, boys, I changed my mind.” I said, leaving the cover of the forest and sauntering up to the two guards. They whirled about, and the poor girl was swung about with them. “See, Sukie and me, we understand each other. You can hand her over, or pay with your lives. I suggest you do the first.” </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Red tightened his grip on Sukie’s arm, causing her to cry out in pain. Blake dropped her other arm, pulling his sword from his belt. “You mean to fight me with only a dagger?” He chortled. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Let’s see, now. Fat, overconfident, and easily irritated… yeah, I think I can take you.” I said, pretending to size him up. A grin broke out on my face as his face turned a shade darker, reminding me more than ever of a tomato. He leapt at me, swinging his sword recklessly. I ducked under one blow, then pushed my dagger forward, cutting his wrist. He cried out, plunging his sword forward.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I jumped over the blade, but pain raced through my leg as it grazed my thigh. “Nasty little thing, aren’t you?” I said, spinning around to deliver a solid kick to his stomach. He fell backwards, and I held my dagger to his throat as I looked at his comrade. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Release the girl.” I demanded. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Fine, then, but you’ll pay, girl! I swear, I will make you pay!” Red snarled, releasing Sukie, who ran to my arms. I awkwardly patted her back, pulling my dagger from the thug’s throat. Then I grabbed her and broke into a sprint towards our freedom. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I guess, sometimes, if you want it badly enough, you can fight for everything you want. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll get it all. And what’s better than that? </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Second place goes to.. John Newton!!! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">His Entry:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> The cell was almost completely dark. Only a small square hole was cut into the wrought iron door on the far wall. I couldn't see anything through the window from my very uncomfortable position on the floor opposite the door where my wrists were chained. My head was still throbbing from the bump on my head I received when the jailer pushed me into the cell. I didn't see the low doorway and before I knew it my head smacked stone. It was my own fault, like it was my fault that we got caught. I can't believe I was so foolish. It was a simple reconnaissance mission. My orders were to investigate the increased troop build up on our border with Redelia. Redelia has always been looking for a reason to invade and possibly conquer Codera. Contrary to my orders, I thought that while we were here, we could try to steal some documents. I completely underestimated their security. I didn't think about the possible consequences. I didn't even have an exit strategy. Now we're in a Redelian dungeon.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> I don't know where my men were. They separated us once they brought to this border garrison. Since I ordered the surrender when they cornered us on the edge of the cliff instead of trying to fight four dozen men with five- six including me, they were all pretty demoralized. I couldn't really blame them. They all looked to me to lead them and I failed them. I was so concerned with being a hero that I compromised the safety of my men and the mission. Now my pride and over-confidence will probably lead to all of us being killed. The Redelians don't take to kindly to foreign spies and thieves, even suspected ones. Because I disobeyed orders, I can't count on any rescue. My superiors probably don't even know where we are.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> I thought we might have a chance of getting out as long as they don't realize that we are Rangers of Codera, their arch-enemy, and they believe our cover story that we are bounty hunters. If they don't believe that we are just bounty hunters, even if we don't escape, Redelia might not find out that we are from Codera and therefore not retaliate, which could result in war. If they did, it would be all my fault.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> I looked up as keys jangled in lock and the door swung open on its rusty hinges. The shadows of the jailer and several guards fell onto the floor as they stood in the doorway. One guard held a torch that cast an eerie light onto his and his comrades' faces.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Thank you all for partisapating! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
-M.H.-</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Mikayla Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860338066364366978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-71401661797751803142015-03-25T11:00:00.000-07:002015-03-25T11:00:00.867-07:00Book Review Radialloy<div style="text-align: center;">
I am so glad to have found Christian Sci-Fi! <span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">I received a copy of Radialloy in exchange for my honest review.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> So here it is!</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>A little about the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1475294409/ref=rdr_ext_tmb">book</a>:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBney0g1M4qu5XRxcsVTKBt3QptRdIdabH2pcwRwGOHdHkZJzLKtfqJ6gP3_SrnfVur19cyckfz4K6jLu6YEU2fDYI_MgxnL5D26UQpRUn6m85Rw7Q7_uiEz50aGRLVNsRTPyvGblT8kS/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBney0g1M4qu5XRxcsVTKBt3QptRdIdabH2pcwRwGOHdHkZJzLKtfqJ6gP3_SrnfVur19cyckfz4K6jLu6YEU2fDYI_MgxnL5D26UQpRUn6m85Rw7Q7_uiEz50aGRLVNsRTPyvGblT8kS/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<i>"The year is 2320. Andi Lloyd is content with her life as the assistant to her adoptive father, a starship doctor, but her secure world turns upside down when she begins uncovering secrets from her past. When her father mysteriously starts losing his mind, she finds that she can no longer count on him to guide or help her. With mutiny breaking out on the ship, and two factions desperate for a valuable secret she holds, she must race to help her father and herself before time runs out."</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What I enjoyed:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7SQtKWohfSyQ4MKIcEfS5DfSgHoFLnmbZxW_Wg57JlxYBdg48edQBl2rN8N7bh8GpD56JoLV_KbblAe7J4mbSmz4RSgX3vZJCXZGEtzSKYfWuZ5QHMtvfZF5s5y2o1ZTP5RSuTMQHZ1L/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-08+at+3.12.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7SQtKWohfSyQ4MKIcEfS5DfSgHoFLnmbZxW_Wg57JlxYBdg48edQBl2rN8N7bh8GpD56JoLV_KbblAe7J4mbSmz4RSgX3vZJCXZGEtzSKYfWuZ5QHMtvfZF5s5y2o1ZTP5RSuTMQHZ1L/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-08+at+3.12.57+PM.png" height="200" width="176" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I have wanted to read Sci-Fi for a long time, but most of it has magic. I was so grateful to finally find a truly Christian Science Fiction book!<br />
<br />
It is always enjoyable to have a girl and boy adventure, and have them depend on each other, but most books take it too far. They make this adventure into a romance. I was relieved to find out that Andi was able to foster adventure and relationship making I thought it was brilliant how J. Grace made this brotherly love come about in a most unexpected way.<br />
<br />
I read most of this book between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m two nights in a row. I fell asleep reading it and had to finish the last chapter the next morning. Needless to say, Radialloy has a gripping storyline.<br />
<br />
I love how J. Grace was able to have her characters be drawn closer to God through the story, and keep Him a big part of the story, while not feeling like you are reading a theology book. Don't get me wrong, books on theology are great too, but sometimes you just want to read a thrilling novel!<br />
<br />
This is a story about friendship. It is about trust, letting go of your worries, and giving them over to Christ. It is about loyalty and betrayal. It is about secrets and the finding of truth. It is about a girl with a rare disease, that will not give up.</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b><b>What I didn't like as much:</b><br />
I always really try to be honest about this so readers won't be surprised by some unpleasant part of the book, and so my opinion is valid. Nonetheless, there is nothing questionable! :)</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Who I'd recommend this book to:</b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pre-Teens to Young Adults would enjoy this book most. I, at 14, enjoyed it immensely and can't wait to read the second book, "In His Image."<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>A bit about the Author:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TAZR3NrdmSzY-fMVWro5xhF-9n3T95jwXv55iA_GT3P0P9VY1hjU4jIFn-okjaczUFesJkxQzZ0mwS-Ia-lDGKQ-aOSJVLP9_zNpCRQanRPtfcaj_xfnrq6OVUNibZ93VZwgFgYYYRF6/s1600/61MfNTPgIHL._UX250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TAZR3NrdmSzY-fMVWro5xhF-9n3T95jwXv55iA_GT3P0P9VY1hjU4jIFn-okjaczUFesJkxQzZ0mwS-Ia-lDGKQ-aOSJVLP9_zNpCRQanRPtfcaj_xfnrq6OVUNibZ93VZwgFgYYYRF6/s1600/61MfNTPgIHL._UX250_.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="text-align: start;">"Being an author helps me have a better appreciation for His care. As an author, you take delight in planning every little detail of your characters' lives, you can't wait to give them wonderful gifts, you are saddened to take them through the valley, but you know you have to to give them something more beautiful."</i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
J. Grace Pennington is an author, daughter, sister and Christian. She loves the wind on her face, her family, to be alone and listen to beautiful music. She loves good stories and horses and looking up at the stars. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You can also see this review on Amazon and Goodreads!</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-21345057563383488972015-03-13T11:46:00.001-07:002015-03-25T20:46:43.512-07:00March Contest<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello everyone! I'm sure you are wondering where the March Contest is... I am sorry I didn't get it out last week. But here it is anyways! This month we will be giving away a copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Firmament-Radialloy-J-Grace-Pennington/dp/1475294409/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425932247&sr=8-1&keywords=radialloy">Radialloy </a>to the winner!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPMF7mjWp_3XNshZvJmd3P3uA4rHwSGFyz5lGYXDnaVd7ZUNUTfYMyWnZucY3yRD1n6uGL0nEbDB5CO1hw2MW9JOBex5EzUbBjvwC7u66FIQCYhtHGT5LUuNmdftHdqHkx4zr0sRkgfE/s1600/51Gwhjo3cgL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPMF7mjWp_3XNshZvJmd3P3uA4rHwSGFyz5lGYXDnaVd7ZUNUTfYMyWnZucY3yRD1n6uGL0nEbDB5CO1hw2MW9JOBex5EzUbBjvwC7u66FIQCYhtHGT5LUuNmdftHdqHkx4zr0sRkgfE/s1600/51Gwhjo3cgL.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In lots of classic literature the main character has one "tragic flaw". They are a hero, capable of great things, except they are prideful. Or they are brilliant only they were born a peasant. Please write a short story between 300 and 900 words in which your main character has a "tragic flaw" that will either lead to their success of demise.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please submit these to futurehomeschoolauthors@gmail.com by March 25, when you can see a review of the book you will have a chance of winning! Results will be published on the March 31. First place wins a copy of Radialloy and gets posted on the blog along with second and third place!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-29331990927030948942015-03-09T10:46:00.001-07:002015-03-09T10:46:05.967-07:00Resistance Book Review<div style="text-align: center;">
Today I will be reviewing Resistance, by Jaye L. Knight! First of all let me apologize for the time it has taken me to get this review up. My school has been really heavy and I haven't been able to find a lot of pleasure reading time. Nonetheless this book was well worth the wait!<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>A little about the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Resistance-Ilyon-Chronicles-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00KFXB1IM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1422378408&sr=1-1&keywords=resistance+jaye+l+knight">book</a>:</b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiep4PU9eagVlzdseL8fm2J1b1RO6I6bl23y29BHsvvhvcYMKCTXR2qi9odxcB3vB4FAq12Byi1L8JiIGVSIs2_38nXdHrhyphenhyphen8PHgx2lOAJ5JoTE6Ks3ePugHZThy1ks2xOF0Mz5g5cP4E8/s1600/91ND7Nre3cL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiep4PU9eagVlzdseL8fm2J1b1RO6I6bl23y29BHsvvhvcYMKCTXR2qi9odxcB3vB4FAq12Byi1L8JiIGVSIs2_38nXdHrhyphenhyphen8PHgx2lOAJ5JoTE6Ks3ePugHZThy1ks2xOF0Mz5g5cP4E8/s1600/91ND7Nre3cL._SL1500_.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>" 'Don’t you know? Animals like you have no soul.' </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Could God ever love a half-blood all of society looks upon with such fear and disdain? Jace once believed so, but when a tragic loss shatters the only peace he’s ever known, his faith crumbles as the nagging doubts he’s tried to put behind him descend on his grieving heart. With them come the haunting memories of the bloodstained past he longs to forget, but can never escape. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Taken from home at a young age and raised to serve the emperor, Kyrin Altair lives every day under a dangerous pretense of loyalty. After her unique observation skills and perfect memory place her into direct service to the emperor, Kyrin finds herself in further jeopardy as it becomes increasingly difficult to hide her belief in Elôm, the one true God. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Following the emperor’s declaration to enforce the worship of false gods under the penalty of death, many lives are endangered. But there are those willing to risk everything to take a stand and offer aid to the persecuted. With their lives traveling paths they never could have imagined, Jace and Kyrin must fight to overcome their own fears and conflicts with society as they become part of the resistance."</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What I enjoyed:</b><br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Okay, I literally fell in love with the characters. All of them. They were so wonderfully developed and I found myself.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I could relate to so many experiences. I think Jaye L. Knight does a wonderful job of making her characters and what they have to go through relatable to the everyday reader, yet also very extraordinary.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This told the story of a persecuted people. It is centered around the one true God, standing up for Him, and standing up for what is right, no matter what the personal cost is. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I really enjoyed how Knight described and had her characters experience true love. The Bible says in John 15:3, <i>"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." </i>Knight's characters encapsulate this love amazingly. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Not only did I enjoy reading this book for pleasure, but it inspired me spiritually and in my everyday life to live it for the Glory of the one true King.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jace was one of my favorite characters! His struggle with his Ryrik blood and wondering if he really had a soul was skillfully written. I was always on the edge of my seat wondering what he would do. It literally hurt me to see the way people treated him without even getting to know his true nature.</div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What I didn't like as much:</b></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am a little worried there will be romance in the future and I won't be able to read future books, but other than that I have nothing negative!<br />
<br />
Oh another complaint is that THE BOOK DID NOT GO ON FOREVER!!!!<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Who I'd recommend this book to:</b><br />
I think this book is perfect for older pre-teens through young adults. There is some violence, and a few torture scenes but nothing too gruesome and Elom always intervenes at just the right time.<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>A bit about <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jaye-L.-Knight/e/B00KH26I7K/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1">the Author</a>:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCoF7P-535g-tW8sback7qJVX_-ydIRm0EUkktnv2zK8vy00K6pkH3X8vxc6llVgqcijpnORwiellkQfEB2VvvxLmTOvfvJGpIwwXCqQ3ClVWR4jZ7hFFv3wIcZFtMhej_60l6hpYT6Yw/s1600/714JApJk3FL._UX250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCoF7P-535g-tW8sback7qJVX_-ydIRm0EUkktnv2zK8vy00K6pkH3X8vxc6llVgqcijpnORwiellkQfEB2VvvxLmTOvfvJGpIwwXCqQ3ClVWR4jZ7hFFv3wIcZFtMhej_60l6hpYT6Yw/s1600/714JApJk3FL._UX250_.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Jaye L. Knight is a 25 year old independent author with a passion for writing Christian fantasy and clean NA fiction. Armed with an active imagination and love for adventure, Jaye weaves stories of truth, faith, and courage with the message that even in the deepest darkness, God's love shines as a light to offer hope.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Jaye is a homeschool graduate and has been penning stories since the age of eight. She was previously published as Molly Evangeline<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">."</span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You can also see this review on Amazon and Goodreads!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-72192448140384690382015-02-25T06:26:00.000-08:002015-02-25T06:26:30.316-08:00Contest Results<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm here to announce the winner of the kindle copy of Counted Worthy by Leah E. Good!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPebxXvNyHATUJpboUmjiB7X4W9xFOrg9pD4PXr1fFMWBUONdPuWClALngwI47WZJRNSm9Js3LH_KJzUFAsk66UL2j8p83KZDajHPS3fl_iWU-GWUElyABic1BHeXY99jaX26Q1X4h_Vk/s400/61tfR+HKbfL._SL1000_.jpg" width="250" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And the winner is...... Anna Baber!!! Congratulations!! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Her entry: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>"I will get him back.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>But one sound could cost me everything.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>I crawl on the thirsty ground, my dark fingerless hands scraping raw. My animal hide tunic clings to mingling sweat and blood. My eyes sting with dust as I watch the setting sun.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>My limbs tremble with each silent movement. My bleeding legs quake as they push forward to gain an inch, knife-like grass cutting my face and arms.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Despite the burning sand I lie on, I feel a chill. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>I do not think I can make it.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>I collapse.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Too exhausted even to cry my dry tears, I lay there, wondering if my heart still beat.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Then, the desperate cries of the Nyamwezi’s captives and the sound of their binding chains pierce my heart as they trudged through this forsaken land.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>As strength surges through my veins, I know one thing even as it pulsed through my very heart, even as I dragged in one more racking breath.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>I will get him back."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Second place goes to... Ruth Newton!!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Her Entry:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>One Word Could Cost Her Everything</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>There wasn’t any way around it. Usually I could come up with a compromise plan, some way to make the best out of a less than perfect situation. I couldn’t do that now.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>I had read about this situation dozens of time. Dakota had even talked to me about it. What do you do, when the good of a few is weighed against the good of many? It’s easy enough to read about it and get upset when the hero decides to risk the lives of many by trying to save those close to him.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Yes or No.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>One of those words was going to be my answer. Each of them represented two different things that could happen. And I had to choose which it would be.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>“Take your time, Ms. Avery. Choose wisely.”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>I knew that there was a slight possibility I could do what Nick wanted without causing something horrible to happen. Maybe I could get away with it, maybe I could protect my family and still warn the others in time.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>I looked at the security feed playing on the computer screen. Tiry was holding Sean on her lap and letting him play with her necklace. The necklace I gave her for her birthday five years before.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Nick watched me from behind the desk. He seemed to be trying to read my face, trying to guess what I would say.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>I could say ‘yes’, and help him get back into the system. Lives would be put at risk, people who were key players in the struggle could be killed. But my family would be safe. Nick wouldn’t lie about that, he wouldn’t hurt them if he didn’t need to.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Or I could say ‘no’. I didn’t even know how far he would go to make me do it. I didn’t know if someone else other than me could do it. The day of the speech was getting closer, and Nick needed to be ready for his plan at least two days before. I didn’t have any rescue or escape plan. Nick wasn’t the one to be cruel, but he would hurt my sister or even Sean if he thought he had to. I had seen what he had done to people before. Images of Will, shaking on the bed, suffering from the effect of whatever Nick has used on him, flashed through my mind.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>I wanted so badly to make it where I could be the one who would be at risk. That way, nobody else would or could get hurt. I had to risk being responsible. I would have to be the one that lived with whatever decision I made.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>I looked up at Nick. His feet were up on the desk, and he was running his hands through his light, blonde hair.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>This is it. Right here, right now, I will have to take a risk. Strangely enough, I didn’t feel as panicked as I thought I should be. I knew that it was not in my hands anymore. The risk factor that Gabriel had talked about was in play. I can’t be strong without first trusting.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>“Yes.” Nick swung his feet off the table in surprise.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>“Really? That’s what you want to do?”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>“I said yes.”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>“Well, okay then. Let’s get started.”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>As I walked out of the room, flanked by two security guards, I felt numb. What I was going to do wouldn’t be easy, but I knew I could do it. What would happen when I was finished? I didn’t know if it was selfish of me to feel that I wouldn’t be able to live with what I was about to do. But I had to risk it, I couldn’t let anything happen to Tiry and Sean.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Nick brought me into a large computer lab. The guard behind me shoved into a chair in front of one of the computers. As soon as I turned on the screen, I saw a file labeled “WinterToday.”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>“Whenever you’re ready.” Nick said.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>I put my hands on the keyboard. I had made the decision to take the risk. Now it was time to jump.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thank you to everyone who entered! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Mikayla-</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Mikayla Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860338066364366978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-86661954369111211112015-02-20T08:24:00.000-08:002015-02-25T17:32:15.442-08:00Counted Worthy Book Review<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>A little about the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OD4J9LA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00OD4J9LA&linkCode=as2&tag=leahsbook-20&linkId=TAF3AKYY257NFEFE">book</a>:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuygPmmh-O4MPJGly4sKl2xyo1qf2-5mEXt47EeEFuWHgjQpO2GrvpjX4pDJ-01U1N1Dj7TWeOVMHwKXmigjWfR0MFKVpqUzSr0OlNevmBOJGwp5-h9bQwrZBVo4FJYfODXy69EkgIAsAN/s1600/81q-Mvjjo9L._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuygPmmh-O4MPJGly4sKl2xyo1qf2-5mEXt47EeEFuWHgjQpO2GrvpjX4pDJ-01U1N1Dj7TWeOVMHwKXmigjWfR0MFKVpqUzSr0OlNevmBOJGwp5-h9bQwrZBVo4FJYfODXy69EkgIAsAN/s1600/81q-Mvjjo9L._SL1500_.jpg" height="320" width="199" /></a></div>
<i>"Heather Stone lives in fear of repeating the past, yet she continues doing the one thing that could trigger another disaster. When the police trace an illegal Bible to her house, Heather’s world begins to crumble. </i><br />
<i><br />Her father’s life hangs in the balance. No one with the power to help knows or cares. If she tries to save him, she could lead her friends to their deaths. If she does nothing, her father’s fate is certain. Can she evade a hostile police force and win public sympathy before it’s too late?"</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is the story of one girl, her God and friend on a mission to free her father and<br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What I enjoyed:</b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
First, can I just say that the Cover is AWESOME! It is so modern and yet the whole theme is drawing us closer to our God who has been here since before time began!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I loved the characters! They were so real and intriguing. They were godly, but not perfect. They had their faults and you could see them struggling to do the right thing and follow God not just their desires.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Counted Worthy really focused on people helping people, something that I think really reflected the author, Leah.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Leah's word usage is amazing, so many times I was wowed by how powerful an individual word or a sequence of words could be. Here is one of my favorite quotes that I think really characterizes Bryce:</div>
<div>
<i> "'Follow me.' Bryce took off with a swaggering gate."</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i>Counted Worthy wasted no time in getting me on the edge of my seat. It did not take a super long time to introduce everyone (it really annoys me when authors do this). Somehow I felt as though I knew them as soon as I started reading. <b>It was like a portrait painted with words was set before me.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This book is truly about normal Christians doing hard things in a time of persecution. Counted Worthy is true to it's title and helps readers to see what doing REALLY hard things looks like. The devoted Christians refused to give up their faith or to give up on others despite the earthly consequences because they looked forward to the heavenly ones.<br />
I really appreciated that Bryce and Heathers relationship did not develop into a romance. I much preferred the hinting that something might happen in the future. Bryce and Heather had the sweetest and most self sacrificing love for each other, just as a sister and brother or best friends might have. I also loved the fact that Bryce was always trying to protect Heather.</div>
<div>
Here is a moving quote from Heather:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DPNECIAVtvjrBZL4eILrHX19MmHsVlXH2jaQ6Hm9b333a_yuDBnTM50HwjIo5g3bxCXi-R8G3eB-Xlpw9x3J6DZf66Us8LoEemFs6LQ8L9LjN0-BDTzQIH2w983OvP5X1DoScGwSub6Q/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DPNECIAVtvjrBZL4eILrHX19MmHsVlXH2jaQ6Hm9b333a_yuDBnTM50HwjIo5g3bxCXi-R8G3eB-Xlpw9x3J6DZf66Us8LoEemFs6LQ8L9LjN0-BDTzQIH2w983OvP5X1DoScGwSub6Q/s1600/unnamed.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></div>
<div class="page" title="Page 108">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<div class="page" title="Page 62">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12pt;"><i>"Out of habit, I started coming up with blessings. I had been able to runaway when the cop shot me with his electrically charged water gun. Dad was still alive. Even if they killed him, I knew he would go to heaven. I had a brother-friend in Bryce and a grandma-ally in Miss Lucy."</i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"> There are so many other things I liked/loved/enjoyed about Counted Worthy. I sincerely hope</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Leah will write more in the future and I look forward to her next book combining her passion of Orphans and writing.</span></div>
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What I didn't like as much:</b></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ummmm... There was really nothing I didn't like! Believe me I really tried to find SOMETHING I didn't like, but was quite unsuccessful. :)<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Who I'd recommend this book to:</b><br />
Families, Teens, Adults, kids... anyone could read this book! It is a thrilling story that I guarantee will keep you gripped the entire time! I am 14 and I sware I barely breathed through the whole thing!</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>A bit about the Author:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0A5tuR9gCxBnIlRZYiYu7mCV9Y5QzNtgdvw-H1jdNEtJVlk8qYdU0pfJyKGa90U-tkvs3iFKQxCSvo0kofBR2PVebrUCQJPRN99xMY2DMFX7oz87p9VXC15we-XLTZFAo1qkboOjDQUG/s1600/headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0A5tuR9gCxBnIlRZYiYu7mCV9Y5QzNtgdvw-H1jdNEtJVlk8qYdU0pfJyKGa90U-tkvs3iFKQxCSvo0kofBR2PVebrUCQJPRN99xMY2DMFX7oz87p9VXC15we-XLTZFAo1qkboOjDQUG/s1600/headshot.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The author of Counted Worthy, Leah E. Good says, </div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"<i>My relationship with Jesus is the most important part of my life. Though many people think of Him as a crutch to get through life, I think of Him more as a jet pack. I can truly say He has given me life, and life more abundant. Because of my great friendship with my Savior, I want to serve Him in every area of my life." </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Books have been a favorite part of my life for as long as I can remember."</i></div>
Visit her on her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LeahEGood">Facebook</a>, her <a href="http://leahegood.com/">Blog</a>, her <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/109297309790982868001/posts">Google Plus Account</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7012375.Leah_E_Good">Goodreads </a>and even her <a href="https://twitter.com/LeahEGood">Twitter</a>!<br />
Don't forget to check out her <a href="http://storiesforgodsglory.com/">Writing Curriculum</a> or her <a href="http://teensintercedingfororphans.com/tio-blog/">blog about Teens Interceding For Orphans</a>!<br />
<br />
You can also see this review on Amazon, Goodreads, and <a href="http://learningtodanceinthereign.blogspot.com/2014/11/counted-worthy-book-review.html">Dancing In His Reign</a>. :)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-24166102095826768812015-02-18T05:00:00.000-08:002015-02-18T05:00:03.180-08:00Interview with Leah Good<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Today I have an </span><span style="color: #222222;">interview</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> with Leah Good!! =D</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="400" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8awnJ0u-Xlo/U_0VGFvL2SI/AAAAAAAAANU/TX_UDIQz7vg/s545-no/Headshot_3.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Why did you decide to be an author?</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They say that true authors write because they can't not write. Which is largely true for me. I also feel like writing is one of the primary skills God gave me an aptitude for. If God gives a talent, it's because He wants it to be used. So I'm trying to do just that.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What's your favorite book and why?</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Not a fair question. Even excluding my own books and the Bible, it's not a fair question. ;) Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, Safely Home, and A Little Princess are all very high on my list. <i>Safely Home </i>is one of the most powerful pieces of fiction I've ever read. It follows the journeys of two men who were once college roommates. One is a successful American businessman, the other returned to China and has sacrificed everything for his Christian faith. It's a more intense book--I'd suggest readers under thirteen ask a parent to pre-read it--but a very powerful one.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Who's your favorite author?</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another hard one. I love the character development of Jill Williamson, the plots of Jerry B. Jenkins, and the humor of John Flanagan.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can you tell us anything about the book you're working on now?</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm currently working on the sequel to <i>Counted Worthy</i>. I can tell you that it begins around nine months after <i>Counted Worthy</i> ends and will probably involve a lot more traveling for Heather. My brother has been helping me to better develop the technology of the story world, because this book is promising to be a lot more complex in those details than <i>Counted Worthy</i>was.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What were the best and worst parts of writing Counted Worthy?</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Counted Worthy </i>was an exciting book for me because I could tell my writing had gone up a notch. Things read better. The story also communicated an important message more powerfully than any of my previous manuscripts. That was really exciting. So those were the best parts. Recognizing improvements. The worst part was "post-production." Editing <i>Counted Worthy</i> took forever and got to be very tedious. I'm so happy it's over and am hoping editing the next book goes much more smoothly!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is your favorite genre?</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, for most of my life the answer to this question has been historical fiction. Right now, though, it's probably dystopian. I'm not normally one to follow trends, but I love the flexibility and power dystopian novels have to communicate a message without becoming preachy. It's a genre Christian writers could do a lot with.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you do any research for your books? If you do, what are your main sources?</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My previous (unpublished) manuscripts were historical fiction. I did a ton of research for those. My favorite sources were the "Writer's Guide to Everyday Life" series. I started writing <i>Counted Worthy</i> because I wanted a break from the intense research required for historicals. What little research was necessary for <i>Counted Worthy</i>, I did through Google and Pinterest searches.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What do you like most about writing?</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sharing my stories with readers. It's incredibly exciting to hear that someone was drawn into the story or was challenged to serve God better because of a characters struggle to do the same. Allowing others to read something I've put so many hours into is always a little scary, but writing wouldn't have much point if I never shared it.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050;"></span><span class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050;"></span><span class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050;"></span></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks so much for having me here on Future Homeschool Authors! It was great to be here. :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>-Mikayla-</b></span></div>
Mikayla Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860338066364366978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-8245780118885285782015-02-04T09:21:00.000-08:002015-02-04T14:23:57.598-08:00February Contest<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>For this month we will be giving away a kindle copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OD4J9LA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00OD4J9LA&linkCode=as2&tag=leahsbook-20&linkId=TAF3AKYY257NFEFE">Counted Worthy</a>!!!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPebxXvNyHATUJpboUmjiB7X4W9xFOrg9pD4PXr1fFMWBUONdPuWClALngwI47WZJRNSm9Js3LH_KJzUFAsk66UL2j8p83KZDajHPS3fl_iWU-GWUElyABic1BHeXY99jaX26Q1X4h_Vk/s1600/61tfR+HKbfL._SL1000_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPebxXvNyHATUJpboUmjiB7X4W9xFOrg9pD4PXr1fFMWBUONdPuWClALngwI47WZJRNSm9Js3LH_KJzUFAsk66UL2j8p83KZDajHPS3fl_iWU-GWUElyABic1BHeXY99jaX26Q1X4h_Vk/s1600/61tfR+HKbfL._SL1000_.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For Februarys Contest and give away, in honor of Counted Worthy, I would like you all to write a story about risk. Write a short story about someone who is willing to sacrifice themselves for their cause, their beliefs, or someone they love. This story can be anywhere from 150 to 500 words, give or take. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Also in honor of Counted Worthy make your title or tagline be <b>"One __________ could cost him/her everything."</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The contest starts February 4th and ends February 22nd. First place wins Counted Worthy! second and third place get posted on the blog. When you are done please email your entries to futurehomeschoolauthors@gmail.com. Look for the upcoming review on this inspirational book!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-9042941388409098742015-01-28T06:21:00.000-08:002015-01-28T06:21:56.671-08:00Contest Results <div style="text-align: center;">
<b>I'm here to announce the winner of Jaye L. Knights book, <i>Resistance</i>. The winner is.....</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyydxHY-qB6hJERD1S0qr8QxI-UsKV4t9FBPFNIPepjJAQbT5JrsDk_HRcWqw1G6OETBJwrF26JQUVoVLVAfRQbVP8UOWA3QhjKm_7jNKYxS0mH7dtzlfEQIE1bbbLwWj69m0NC9m2Bw/s400/91ND7Nre3cL._SL1500_.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>John Newton!!!! Congratulations John! </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>His entry:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Come on, Carissa." I said for about the third time. "Mom and Dad are waiting for us. They specifically told us not to be late this time."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> "I'm almost done, so be quiet." Carisa replied from her room on the second floor. She trotted downstairs in a flutter of fabric. "I'll be right back," she said before disappearing into a room for who knows what.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> "We can't wait. Now come on!" Carisa could take the smallest thing, like getting ready for a fancy dinner party, and turn them into huge affairs. Okay, so a fancy dinner party at the castle isn't a small thing, but she still makes too big a deal out of it.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> Carissa finally came into the entry way. "Okay, I'm ready. Let's go." Finally.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> My sister and I walked out into the street where our carriage was waiting. As we paused by a bakery near the center of the city to let a carriage and a few people pass, I couldn't help but notice a young boy in a corner next to the bakery. He looked half starved. Before I could stop myself, I had jumped out of the carriage and run into the bakery.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> "What are you doing?!" Carissa cried after me, but I didn't take the time to answer her. I chose the biggest, warmest loaf I could find, paid for it and ran back outside. The boy was in the same spot where I saw him first. I slowly walked up to him. It wasn't till then that I noticed that there was a little girl huddled next to him. She looked up at me with a sad face. Her eyes grew large when she saw the bread and she nudged the boy to wake up. Remembering that I was late for a party, I lowered the bread into their awaiting hands and turned towards the carriage when I heard a voice. The little boy, seeing the bread in the little girl's hands and me walking away, yelled, "Thank you, and God bless you!" in my direction. A very polite little boy, to say the least--and a Christian. I silently offered up a prayer for the little faithful boy and his companion. I then turned, waved, and re-boarded the carriage. Carissa was smiling at me as I took my place across from her.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> "That was a very noble thing to do."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> "It was the least I could do."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> "To bad most of those kids don't have any hope." She said as people and buildings blocked the two children from view.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> "Yes they do." I replied. Carissa looked at me questioningly. "As long as they are alive, God will never forget them."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> "And as long as he has servants like you to help out." She added. A big grin spread across my face, and an idea started forming in my head.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> "I have an idea on how we can help the poor kids of this city." I said.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Second place goes to... Clare Farrelly!!! Thank you so much for your entry Clare!!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Her entry:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I had no hope. Why should I? What with a child on the way and two already that walked the streets hungry, and a husband who had left. Not that I blame him, and none may be better than an abusive one. My little ones had to beg for sustenance. I threw up whatever anyone had the kindness to give me. At least I could lie in the meagre privacy of our little curtained place, situated in the corner of the room we shared with three other families. Death would come to me warmly anyway.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Then the angel walked in. Without knocking, we had no door anyway. The spirits skin glowed in the dim light of the room. She bent over me. I had always thought dying would be more painful, and then nothingness, or torment, until I had paid for my life. A man angel rounded the curtain and together they lifted my feather weight and bore me away. I caught one last glimpse of my boy, tears dribbling out of his brown eyes, watching as I left, unable to do anything about it. I should have stayed for him, or for the little girl with bouncing black curls that I knew would be standing in the dirt somewhere, watching. I reached out to my boy and a moan escaped my lips then they were all gone. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Light reflected off light blue walls. A sheet of crinkling white lay over and under me. The angels came and went. They fed me, and talked to me. They were not spirits but people like me; they just had different coloured skin. Now, I remember sometimes seeing other spirit coloured people before, but not often, they usually avoided us, especially women and others as poor and worthless as me.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>These people who are not spirits are strange, they have strange ideas. They think I am worth something and they say that someone great loves me. But I know they are wrong. They say he sent them, but I have seen many to whom he has not sent them. I tell them there is no point in what they are doing, even if I get better, there is no hope. I have lost this child and I know not what has become of my others. Truly all I did have, that little, is gone.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Still they will not give up on either my health or my soul. I should not be frightened, someone they call God is watching me, but I have heard of God. He requires the life of people, of children, he is not good. Nevertheless they tell me stories, of a great creator who loves, everyone, even me. A Jesus who says; “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>They have made my body better, my spirit, not yet. I can leave; I have to, so they can help others, show the love of their Jesus to more. That is why they help. I will go, but I am coming back. Ha that is also something their Jesus said. They say I am to come to the little house next to these rooms. There they will tell me and others more stories; stories that are true, or so they say. I will listen, because if they are true, I have hope.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thank you so much everyone! =D </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Mikayla-</div>
Mikayla Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860338066364366978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-50530464420792390842015-01-27T06:32:00.001-08:002015-01-27T06:32:21.609-08:00Interview with Jaye L. Knight<div style="text-align: center;">
Today I have the honer of presenting an interview with Jaye L. Knight!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Displaying JayeAuthorPhoto.jpg" height="400" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&ik=887f679e14&view=fimg&th=14a6328c22f462ee&attid=0.2&disp=inline&realattid=f_i3vplwgp2&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ_GLT6Y1-fVn85QXJA6Iw4FoqguVGlbIv-8sdP17cEjOfis1iQDCtiOWcFGUbIsL5DwnpnhQ2EeQQ-rXl6oEzd4dIov5G1Lqr5G7vqvPlnGY6t1pTtCKljZXFY&ats=1422368887164&rm=14a6328c22f462ee&zw&sz=w1342-h515" width="334" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>Hello Jaye and welcome to Future Homeschool Authors!</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Thank you so much for having me! Homeschooling and writing are one of my favorite mixes. ;)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>First could you tell us a bit about yourself?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">I’m currently in my mid-twenties (starting to get a little past that, actually, yikes), and a stay-at-home daughter. :) I’ve been writing full time for a couple of years now, and I also run an Etsy shop where I make and sell writing and book inspired jewelry. I’m 100% a country girl and love the outdoors . . . except in the winter. I am NOT a winter girl. That’s not so great when you live in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>Why did you decide to be an author?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Blame my mom, haha. ;) She’s been writing since she was in her teens. When I saw her writing as I was growing up, it looked like so much fun that I had to try it too. There’s really no stopping once you start. I was about fourteen when I truly decided writing was what I wanted to do with my life. You can blame that one on J.R.R. Tolkien. After falling in love with <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>, I wanted to share my own stories like that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>What’s your favorite book?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">The Lord of the Rings</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">, of course. Although the <i>Books of the Infinite</i> series by R.J. Larson is pretty much tied with it. And then there’s <i>Chasing the Lion</i> by Nancy Kimball. I’m not sure I could pick between the three if I had to.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>Who's your favorite Author?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Short answer: J.R.R. Tolkien. I wouldn’t be the author I am if not for him. Longer answer: I absolutely love R.J. Larson, Nancy Kimball, Wayne Thomas Batson, and Karen Witemeyer as well. It’s as hard to pick a favorite author as it is to pick a favorite book.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>Can you tell us anything about the book you’re working on right now?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Well, I released <i>Resistance</i>, the first book of my new adult Christian fantasy series, <i>Ilyon Chronicles</i>, back in May. I am currently working on getting book two, <i>The King’s Scrolls</i>, ready to publish in February. That has consumed most of my time, but I am also working on writing book five of the series. Plus a super-secret project I can’t talk about yet. ;)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>What were the best and worst parts of writing Resistance?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">The best part was my main character Jace. He’s the best part in all the books of <i>Ilyon Chronicles</i>. :) He’s my favorite character I’ve ever written, and I just adore him. But I also like all the different relationship dynamics. There a quite a few characters, and the way they interact is always very interesting. The worst part was probably getting to know my main girl, Kyrin. It was really tough to get her right for a while. It turned out she was just missing her twin brother who didn’t exist when I first started the book. When he popped into my head one day a couple of months later, it changed everything, and Kyrin finally became who I always wanted her to be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>What is your favorite genre? </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Definitely fantasy. I do love a good historical novel. After all, that’s what <i>Chasing the Lion</i> is, but there’s something about fantasy that really draws me. I love discovering new worlds, and I find the characters in fantasy to be particularly interesting. I love to write fantasy because of the freedom and creativity in gives me. It’s so much fun to create different cultures, peoples, and creatures.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>Do you do any research for you books? If you do, what are your main sources?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Yes, there is always some research involved, even writing fantasy. I research weapons, medical topics, and things like that. I have done some historical research for <i>Ilyon Chronicles</i> since it’s a very medieval type world, but also has a Roman feel to it. Probably one of my main resources would be Pinterest--not exactly for information, but more for inspiration. I put together a lot of story and character boards. I also put together boards for each of the races in Ilyon that really gave me a good sense of what each culture was like and has been very helpful in writing the series.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>What do you like most about writing?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">The characters. I’m very big on characters, whether it’s writing or reading. I love relationships--siblings, fathers and their children, romantic relationships, and both good and bad relationships. I love it when the characters take over and become so real. It’s amazing to have all these people with personalities, fears, talents, flaws, and histories, and then sit back and realize it all came from inside your mind. It’s really cool that God gave us that sort of creativity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>Any final thoughts? </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<span class="im" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px;"></span><span class="im" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px;"></span><span class="im" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px;"></span><span class="im" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px;"></span><span class="im" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px;"></span><span class="im" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px;"></span><span class="im" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">I’ve been publishing for almost eight years now, but it wasn’t until just this last year that I felt like I’ve finally achieved what I’ve been trying to accomplish with my writing. It takes a lot of time, learning, and trying, but you just have to keep on pushing forward and keep improving. It can get discouraging at times, but don’t give up. After all, if God gave you the gift of writing, you can be sure He’ll help you use it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b>Also find her here: </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="color: black;">Website: </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://www.jayelknight.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>jayelknight.com/</a></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-indent: 0in;">Blog: <a href="http://jayelknight.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr>jayelknight.blogspot.com/</a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jayelknight" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.<wbr></wbr>facebook.com/jayelknight</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Google+: </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://www.google.com/+JayeLKnight" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.google.<wbr></wbr>com/+JayeLKnight</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Twitter: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jayelknight" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.twitter.<wbr></wbr>com/jayelknight</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Etsy Shop: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/JayeLKnight" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.etsy.com/<wbr></wbr>shop/JayeLKnight</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
Mikayla Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860338066364366978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-87287679206274842852015-01-07T01:00:00.000-08:002015-01-07T17:59:51.493-08:00January ContestWow! I can not believe it is 2015! I am super excited to announce that the winner to our first Giveaway for 2015 will be awarded a copy of Resistance, by <a href="http://www.jayelknight.com/resistance.html">Jaye Knight.</a> Second and Third place will get posted on the blog!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyydxHY-qB6hJERD1S0qr8QxI-UsKV4t9FBPFNIPepjJAQbT5JrsDk_HRcWqw1G6OETBJwrF26JQUVoVLVAfRQbVP8UOWA3QhjKm_7jNKYxS0mH7dtzlfEQIE1bbbLwWj69m0NC9m2Bw/s1600/91ND7Nre3cL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyydxHY-qB6hJERD1S0qr8QxI-UsKV4t9FBPFNIPepjJAQbT5JrsDk_HRcWqw1G6OETBJwrF26JQUVoVLVAfRQbVP8UOWA3QhjKm_7jNKYxS0mH7dtzlfEQIE1bbbLwWj69m0NC9m2Bw/s1600/91ND7Nre3cL._SL1500_.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
For January's Contest, please write short a story about Hope from this picture:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rVjNyx2Tl70HmTeVYa7iiYwOpe_GFIaJtQgYBwo-D6vsDaLziiKSyUL-RifMsjoNqOoVwIFfBfoJ0YhK2-5ie1EgXZ5TBPVprdnzPM2IbkN_-RnFRhHWn_QSEQ_aee2bOVLVUNP5bDk/s1600/ghana_benedict.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rVjNyx2Tl70HmTeVYa7iiYwOpe_GFIaJtQgYBwo-D6vsDaLziiKSyUL-RifMsjoNqOoVwIFfBfoJ0YhK2-5ie1EgXZ5TBPVprdnzPM2IbkN_-RnFRhHWn_QSEQ_aee2bOVLVUNP5bDk/s1600/ghana_benedict.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
This story can be anywhere from 200-800 words. This short story is to be written in first person. For this contest we are going for a story that touches the heart and moves the soul to action. You want to be able to invoke emotion in your reader. Happy 2015! Be hopeful! Write on!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then please take the time to look into this little guy's<a href="http://allgodschildren.org/children/benedict/?show=sponsor"> real story.</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-25026262777270292782014-12-10T01:00:00.000-08:002014-12-17T13:24:34.552-08:00Interview with Rebekah Jones<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello, I am proud to present an interview with this months author: Rebekah Jones! </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a146/Galatians69/Album2/Avatar.jpg" height="320" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="212" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">http://rebekahsquill.com/blog/</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello
Rebekah and welcome to Future Homeschool Authors!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">First
could you tell us a bit about yourself? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The most important
thing about me is that I am a Bible believing, born again Christian. Things
that come second? Hmm…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am 24 years old, and
the eldest of several siblings. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love to write and I
write in just about every form. I write novels and short stories, but also
poetry, songs, essays, articles, book reviews, journal entries (I think I’m
close to filling 20 journals now!), and random blog posts, e-mails, letters,
and social media statuses. :D <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I also love music,
including singing and playing the piano. I often sing while writing even –
sometimes making up new words to songs (like <b>One Day More </b>from <b>Les
Miserables</b>) that put into rhyme whatever I’m trying to figure out with my
characters. Heehee<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Other things I enjoy
are reading, drawing, holding babies, cleaning house, visiting with family and
friends, and studying, amongst other things. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Whats
your favorite book? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Oh dear. My favorite
book. I don’t know if I really could pick just one. I love Charles Dickens’ <b>Nicholas Nickleby </b>and <b>A Tale of Two Cities</b></i><b>,</b><i> but then there’s
Chautona Havig’s <b>Aggie’s Inheritance
Series</b>. Then, what about Jane Austen’s <b>Mansfield
Park </b>or <b>Sense and Sensibility?</b>
Or, let’s not forget about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s <b>Sherlock Holmes </b>stories! :D<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Who's
your favorite Author?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Technically, I could
probably give you a list of ten authors, all who rank among my “favorites”, but
I already got long-winded about my favorite books. :D If it came down to
picking a top favorite, I’d say Charles Dickens right now. I do so enjoy his
writing style, the complexity of his characters, and his intricate story-lines!
<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If
you could meet one person who would it be? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m pretty sure I would
meet Chautona Havig. Not only is she one of my favorite authors, but she’s been
a mentor to me in my writing journey for the past few years. If it weren’t for
her, I’m not sure I would be a published author today. Certainly, I wouldn’t
have four books out! <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Can
you tell us anything about the book your working on right now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Oooh. I love talking
about my works-in-progress. :D Right now, I’m working on drafting out a
Christmas mystery titled <b>24 Days Before
Christmas</b>. Set in the small town of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Poinsettia</st1:city></st1:place>,
the Singh and Winter families find themselves living in the same house for the
holiday season. As they prepare to make the month of December a time of
celebration, trouble starts to rise when Leland Bell, their near neighbor,
disappears. No one knows what happened to him, but as the investigation moves
forward, it seems certain that Leland is probably dead, but when the two
families find themselves pulled into the investigation, they start uncovering a
more complicated mystery, than first meets the eye. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m still working on
this one. Honestly, it could change something on me at any time. For instance,
I <b>thought</b> that I knew who was guilty
of what crime. Now, I have no clue. Possibly part of a clue… but that’s it. I have an idea how the book is going to end,
but I don’t really know at this point, so just about anything could happen. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What
was the best part of writing Grandmother’s Letters? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Seeing everything come
together in the end. I can’t tell you how excited I became when I realized just
how I would be able to tie everything together! It was thrilling! I probably
walked on clouds for a week!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">How
did you begin writing? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve been telling
stories since I could draw pictures. I would pretend to “write”, which pretty
much consisted of squiggles, and draw pictures to illustrate. When I could
write, I started out with simple little stories for my little sister. I
particularly recall a story about Joseph, a young boy who planted a tree in the
desert, that I wrote for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Bethany</st1:city></st1:place>
when I was about seven. I kept that story for many years. I just wish I could
find it now. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What
inspired you to begin writing? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Oooh, lots of things.
But, if I could only pick two, I would probably say books by Isabella Alden and
the old TV show <b>Murder She Wrote</b>. :)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What
is your favorite genre? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Favorite genre… To read
or to write? <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Reading</st1:place></st1:city>
wise, I like just about any genre, really. I’m not into Horror very much, but
that’s about it. I do love a good Mystery though! If I had to choose just one
genre, I’d probably choose that… Or History. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Writing, I’m not sure.
I don’t usually choose my genre before I begin writing. The book tends to shape
itself as I go. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do
you do any research for you books? If you do what are your main sources? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Biblical research, I
usually just use my Bible or the internet. I probably do more Bible verse
research than anything else. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Other research, such as
the meanings of names, the history of a time period, or the sleep cycle of
bees, I prefer real books, but the internet is always my backup. If I do internet
research, I usually double-check multiple sources. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">My other version of
research includes asking questions from people who know. Really though, my
research varies, depending on the topic. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">For example, if I want
to know how women in the Southwest wore their hair in the late 1980’s, I’ll
probably ask my Mum, my grandmother, and several other ladies, in addition to
looking up pictures on the internet or looking at films from the era. On the
other hand, if I wanted to know how women wore their hair in the Southwest in
the 1880’s, I’d probably looks for some books from the library about the
fashion of the era, as well as looking to see what the internet has to say. :)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What
do you like most about writing? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh dear. I love almost
every part! My sister, however, says it’s the beginning. Apparently that’s when
I act the most excited. I <b>do</b> love
the drafting process. Editing can be grueling, but I still enjoy it. Drafting
really is probably the best part. I love getting to know my characters,
learning what their lives are like, and what their stories will be! <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Any
final thoughts? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not that I can think
of. Thank you for interviewing me! :)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank
you so much for all your time! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Mikayla-</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Mikayla Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860338066364366978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-61105415305124776202014-12-03T05:10:00.000-08:002014-12-04T06:40:44.085-08:00December ContestWhat a joyous time December is! We would like to make this holiday season even more joyous by giving away an ebook copy of "A Year With The Potters" by <a href="http://rebekahsquill.com/blog/">Rebekkah Jones</a> to the first place winner of our December contest. Second and third place will be posted on the blog!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmUb3MauqwHikuDckIR-5zFizYVNaOAtzmZGWaPKYwziyjHvIdynQ57F-SPaD9xwlpgTHMpT-oONifrawcsUhz9j6wxRn9wv1J5bxz3KMNmW6UhTV-ZP6wNaCQQYSHVag5ocTC1-yEi4/s1600/AYwtP-FrontCover-Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmUb3MauqwHikuDckIR-5zFizYVNaOAtzmZGWaPKYwziyjHvIdynQ57F-SPaD9xwlpgTHMpT-oONifrawcsUhz9j6wxRn9wv1J5bxz3KMNmW6UhTV-ZP6wNaCQQYSHVag5ocTC1-yEi4/s320/AYwtP-FrontCover-Small.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
For this contest please choose a classic winter/Christmas/holiday story and rewrite it with a unexpected, but well written <b><i>twist</i></b> at the end. Please make your story about 400-1000 words long. Enjoy this season of fellowship and have fun writing! The contest ends on the 24th and the results will be published on the 31st of December.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-19009203696671865912014-11-12T17:35:00.001-08:002014-11-12T17:35:33.159-08:00Contest<div style="text-align: center;">
Hey everyone. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You have noticed lately how posts will show up then you'll go to look at them and they won't be there and posts going up late. I'm sorry. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Its all my fault, I've been wrapped up in a lot of my own stuff and I have neglected the blog. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, this post is actually not to tell you that I've been lacks its to tell you that there will not be any contest this month. And I'm sorry because last months one was canceled to but this one isn't going on because unfortunately John J. Horn's books are out of print and they don't come in e-book format. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sorry about this! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Mikayla-</div>
Mikayla Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860338066364366978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-19620178525580821222014-11-12T14:01:00.002-08:002014-11-12T14:10:10.989-08:00Hebrews Book Review<div style="text-align: center;">
Future Homeschool Authors readers, I am sorry that this was not posted last month, but I am posting it now anyways! So without further ado, I will be posting about another book I REALLY enjoyed reading; Hebbros.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>A little about the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hebbros-Companions-Arcrea-Nicole-Sager/dp/1499253605/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415423349&sr=8-1&keywords=hebbros">book</a>:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2pL55gWEB-HYzIYzfItL4x62VEcl-LAvky32LHTDXwof6dd945luZ65lCQGrSe0u-SRLCxGWjEQwo9JeAnVUMH9z_lEvQFV8VgpmSkgMnpuY7AqALdn9WSFwwE7PnWjc9KCMfkLbfrhc/s1600/81k-oRI0xmL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2pL55gWEB-HYzIYzfItL4x62VEcl-LAvky32LHTDXwof6dd945luZ65lCQGrSe0u-SRLCxGWjEQwo9JeAnVUMH9z_lEvQFV8VgpmSkgMnpuY7AqALdn9WSFwwE7PnWjc9KCMfkLbfrhc/s1600/81k-oRI0xmL._SL1500_.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">"In a realm that feasts on wickedness, and a city that thirsts for power, the faithfulness of a few will be tested. </span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">A MIZGALIAN SEEKS JUSTICE… </span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">When members of his faith are exiled from the city of Hebbros, Luke vows to resist the forces that tore his family apart. Armed with a divine gift and the aid of friends, he undertakes to right a world of wrongs. Opposed on all sides by evil men determined to silence the Faithful and outlaw their powerful God, Luke’s small band will be tried and tested as they battle for truth, freedom, and the overthrow of rampant evil in their city. </span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">AN ARCREAN SEEKS FULFILLMENT… </span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Three years after Elaina’s world was turned upside-down, the former nobleman’s daughter still tastes the sting of bitterness. When an act of betrayal sends her north into slavery, Elaina finds herself face-to-face with the truth she has long resisted and a choice that will change her forever. </span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">THEY WILL DISCOVER A MATCHLESS GRACE… </span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Brought together in a desperate attempt to pluck a remnant from destruction, Luke, Elaina, and a host of unforgettable characters will discover the greatness of the power of God, and the startling truth that some things are not what they seem."</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What I enjoyed:</b><br />
God was the center of the book and each character throughout <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22248969-hebbros">Hebbros</a>. He was entertained in every detail and salvation was explained numerous times. But I did not feel like God was "overly" talked about. He was not a side topic that took away from the storyline, He WAS a part of the story. I really appreciated this about Nicole's writing and would love to read some of her <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/6538148.Nicole_Sager">other books</a> in the future!<br />
<br />
The characters were real. They weren't perfect, but they sought God in a kingdom where God was outlawed. They knew that even in Exile they would be paving the way to Freedom!<br />
<br />
I really enjoyed the fact that Nicole was able to create a wonderful fantasy world without using magic and although some encouraging deep friendships are made that lead to marriage there is no inappropriate romance.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Nicole is a master at creating emotionally gripping scenes. I could feel the characters emotions and couldn't put the book down during certain scenes of emotional unrest! Hebbros was about faithfulness, the Faithful, betrayal, exile, cruelty, love and freedom.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The ending was perfect too.... but you will have to read it to know how Hebbros ends... :)</div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What I didn't like as much:</b></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ummmm... There was really nothing I didn't like!<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Who I'd recommend this book to:</b><br />
I'd recommend this book to Teens mostly, but families, children and even adults could benefit! It is 536 pages so younger readers might find it a bit challenging, but the topics covered are inspirational for all! I am 14 and I enjoyed it immensely!</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>A bit about the Author:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJCorSJDktVWz6eD2MqLdfiqMBr1c89yXv6bZpGWiNDb8wPyH0YL9gNVa1TqiLoCqRkjbNXv6nmYvBtQS-xxW8eHbkh2qnEqr0BRXtf2uMyPtBPzlJ-590p6xlQd8asJT0CatAzRU0Ps/s1600/ede8aa33004b0ad8976fc8.L._V394805470_SX200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJCorSJDktVWz6eD2MqLdfiqMBr1c89yXv6bZpGWiNDb8wPyH0YL9gNVa1TqiLoCqRkjbNXv6nmYvBtQS-xxW8eHbkh2qnEqr0BRXtf2uMyPtBPzlJ-590p6xlQd8asJT0CatAzRU0Ps/s1600/ede8aa33004b0ad8976fc8.L._V394805470_SX200_.jpg" /></a></div>
<i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"I am a homeschool graduate and an avid reader who enjoys writing Inspirational Fantasy set in a medieval-like era."</i></div>
<i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"In writing each book, I pray that it will bring honor and glory to God, and that He will use it as a tool to bring at least one person to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ."</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
Visit her on her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/arcreabooks">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7012375.Leah_E_Good">Goodreads</a>, or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B00A623VH6_B00A623VH6_sr?rh=i%3Abooks&field-author=Nicole+Sager&sort=relevance&ie=UTF8&qid=1415828384">check out some of her other books</a>!<br />
<br />
You can also see this review on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R2V40X8URK4QOD/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00KH6QQIW&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22248969-hebbros">Goodreads</a>. :)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-66433616849111271942014-11-12T07:04:00.000-08:002014-11-12T08:55:10.262-08:00Interview with John J. Horn<div class="im" style="background-color: white;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
Hello I am very proud to present an interview with John J. Horn!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<img alt="John J. Horn" src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/be0ac0_810f2280c98a9ba51422610c61170442.jpg_srz_p_268_393_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srz" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222; text-align: start;"><b>His website:</b> </span><a href="http://www.johnjhornbooks.com/" style="color: #1155cc; text-align: start;" target="_blank">http://www.johnjhornbooks.com/</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; color: #500050; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; color: #500050; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Hello and welcome to Future Homeschool Authors!</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; color: #500050; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks! I’m very glad to be here.</span></div>
<div class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">First could you tell us a bit about yourself? </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My name is John J. Horn and I’m a young Christian fellow passionate about telling excellently-crafted stories that glorify God and delight readers. I was born and partly raised in New Jersey and now live in sunny San Antonio, Texas. I have two married siblings and a super-fun nephew and niece with more on the way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What’s your favorite book? </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I wonder if anyone has exactly one favorite book. Precluding the Bible, top favorites for me are <i>The Coral Island</i> by R.M. Ballantyne, <i>The Mysterious Island</i> by Jules Verne, and <i>The Leatherstocking</i> <i>Tales</i>by James Fenimore Cooper.</span></div>
<div class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Who's your favorite Author?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For fiction, I’ll say R.M. Ballantyne. For nonfiction, I’ll say David McCullough (with Stephen Ambrose as a close second).</span></div>
<div class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If you could meet one person who would it be? </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">That’s a very interesting question. I’ve never thought about that before. I try to be a realistic thinker, so I’ll limit my choices to someone still alive. I’ll say David McCullough. He has an absorbing writing style and has chosen a fascinating variety of historical subjects to write about (John Adams, the Johnstown Flood, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Americans in Paris to name a few).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Can you tell us anything about the book you're working on right now?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I wish I could. Sadly I’m not currently working on a book, as I’m devoting my energies to a nearly full-time job and a degree which I’m pursuing online. Hopefully I’ll be able to begin my next project in Summer 2015.</span></div>
<div class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What was the best part of writing The Men of Grit series?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Getting to spend time with my characters. I don’t endorse letting your characters take your story wherever they want, as you’ll probably end up with a poorly structured story, but giving your characters the leeway to express themselves within defined parameters is a lot of fun.</span></div>
<div class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">How did you begin writing? </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Books are in my DNA. My whole family loves reading, and I actually can’t remember what it’s like to not be able to read. I think the actual impetus to my writing was a friend who began writing a mystery series. I became enamored with the idea of writing and began my own mystery series.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I never completed any books in that mystery series, but it was the first time I tried a long writing project. I didn’t complete my second novel-length project either. I did finish my third project, but it wasn’t good enough to be published. My fourth project was <i>The Boy Colonel</i>, which is the first book in my Men of Grit series.</span></div>
<div class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What inspired you to begin writing? </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Reading. I wanted to emulate the authors I loved. Now, I want to delight readers, glorify God, and let others share in the stories in my brain.</span></div>
<div class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What is your favorite genre?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Historical fiction.</span></div>
<div class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Do you do any research for you books? If you do what are your main sources? </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I definitely research my books. The internet is my primary source, with select books as a secondary source.</span></div>
<div class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What do you like most about writing? </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Finishing. Seriously. Writing can be incredibly hard and annoying, but finishing, whether it’s at the end of a profitable day of writing or at the very end of a project, brings an amazing sense of accomplishment. Other than finishing, my favorite part is probably the conversations I get to create between my characters.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Any final thoughts? </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I have plenty of thoughts, but I hope they’re not my final ones.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If you want to be an author, you need to discipline yourself. To finish a book you’re going to have to sit down at your computer many times when you’d rather do almost anything else in the world. If you do finish a book, you’ll have to fight to get it published. If you get published, you’ll have to begin the fight all over again. And you probably won’t make enough money to survive. But if writing is in you DNA, you’ll do it any way for the love of crafting good stories.</span></div>
<div class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you so much for all your time! </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Absolutely. Thanks for having me!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>-Mikayla-</b></span></span></div>
Mikayla Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860338066364366978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-83584202999150113962014-11-03T05:09:00.000-08:002014-11-03T05:09:17.694-08:00Contest<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Due to a lot that didn't get done this month we're very sorry to say the contest has been cancled. </span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; text-align: center;">
I'm very sorry. </div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; text-align: center;">
-Mikayla-</div>
Mikayla Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860338066364366978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194324968888593385.post-188615526914582192014-10-15T04:00:00.000-07:002014-10-15T04:00:04.733-07:00One year anniversary Hello everyone, this is Mikayla. Wow, it has been one year since I started this blog with three other lovely girls. Since then two of the organal girls have left, one other has come and gone and now we have a team of three, myself, Ysa and Lisbeth.<br />
To celebrate one year of Future Homeschool Authors we've brought back Nicole Sager, our organal hosted author.<br />
Before I share the interveiw with her I'd like to just say thank you to all of ya'll, you're all amazing followers and writers! I look forward to another year with ya'll!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O3YVykpA2V4/UjICyO06aHI/AAAAAAAAAfI/2gmUTA-xcsY/s320/6538148.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Note, this is the organal interview we did with her from a year ago.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Hello and welcome to Future Homeshool Authors! Thank you Nicole Sager for being our first interviewed author!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thank you so much for having me - what an honor!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>First could you tell us a bit about yourself? </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm a graduated homeschooler in my mid-20s, currently living in Texas. I'm the 2nd of 6 kids, and I love to read, tap-dance, and perform in our local community theatre with several of my siblings. I love (LOVE) coffee and hot tea. As a really random tidbit, I also love babysitting and have done so for the same family for 4 years now!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>How did you begin writing? </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I always loved describing the things I saw around me, and with a truly active imagination a story was sure to be produced with my mental wanderings. I started with an interactive picture book about an ant, and then later wrote a short novel about a girl and her horse in dedication to a friend. Those stories will never greet the public's eye (in all of their simplistic and badly-written glory), nevertheless they were stepping stones that taught me early lessons in writing!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Why do you write non magical fantasy? </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ha! This question always make laugh, because the answer is so very shameful :) I originally decided on fantasy because I didn't want to have to do research on accurate history/locations! I figured if I could make everything up on my own, writing would be so much easier. Boy, was I wrong. However, now that I know better, I do still enjoy the liberty that fantasy allows - I can make things up and it;s still ok.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As to the other half of the question, I write non-magical simply because I don't like magic and mysticism. I believe God is very clear in His Word about His opinion of witches/wizards, and His power is so much greater anyway. In short, I see it as a choice to have my characters rely on their own man-made strengths, or on the power of God (through prayer, faith, etc.). I prefer to strive for the latter.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What inspired you to write The Heart of Arcrea? </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was coming to the close of another series (which I'm hoping to edit and publish) and was trying to feel around for ideas for my next book. I came across the name Druet and knew that I wanted this to be the name of my next hero. Then my brother came up with the name Arcrea for a game and told me I could use the idea if I wanted to. So I did! I started with a name and a kingdom, and prayed for the rest!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Do you do any research for you books? If you do what are your main sources? </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yes! Though, as I said before, my hopes for a research-free hobby, I have done a lot of research for the medieval time period I've modeled my books after (What tools did blacksmiths use? What were some healing herbs? What were the habits of shepherds? Etc...) I usually do a google search and find articles, pictures, or entire websites devoted to the question at hand. You'd be surprised at how many people have asked the same questions as you!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What piece of advice would you give to writers of non magical fantasy? </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Keep your purpose focused on the Lord. Always pray through your writing and seek to serve Him through it. "Serving the Lord with all humility of mind" (Acts 20:19a) "Let God be magnified" through your work (Psalm 70:4b).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One other thought - No matter what genre you write, think of the story through each character's perspective (What would this person think, say, or do with this situation?). Learning this really helped me feel like my characters were more realistic!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Any final thoughts? </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have so enjoyed the journey through writing that God has led me on, and I look forward to more! My abilities are currently being focused on writing, but not everyone has that desire or gift. Seek the Lord and His purpose for your life, and then let Him take you on an adventure greater than any book! Have fun within the talents and avenues God has given you to serve in.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Thank you so much for giving up some of your time to interview with us! We loved having you! </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mikayla, thank you so much for letting me "stop by" to chat! May the Lord bless you and use you and your work for His glory!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b> -Mikayla-</b></div>
Mikayla Holmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860338066364366978noreply@blogger.com0