Ukuleles, Pink Hearts, and a Book Release (ft. Giveaway Winners!)

And just like that, February is over...thus enabling me to post my FIRST end-of-the-month recap post because I missed January. (Whoopsnotwhoops.) And, yes, I will announce the giveaway winners at the end of this post...though *spoiler alert* they already know who they are. ;) Since I'm obviously not in a "let's make a crazy long, exciting introduction" mood, let's jump right into this monthly recap thing with both feet. Otherwise I'm going to bore you to death within the first minute you spend on this post. XD

 



~ LIFE ~

So February and January have done their best to make me realize yet again that this life is not going to listen to me as I gasp for air and yell at it to SLOW DOWN.

However, in a weird way, I'm glad my life is as busy as it is. Much as I wish I could find more time to read and write, I love the hectic chaos that is my life and I wouldn't trade my life for anyone else's if you paid me. (No offense)

As most of you know, during February I released my first EVER fairytale re-telling, "Sleeping Handsome". You all were super supportive and sweet in your congratulations and help in spreading the word. ^_^ I just recently ordered a set of 20 copies to distribute among church family who have asked for signed copies, and if any of you are interested, there will be a few extra copies if you also want to claim a autographed copy. ;)

College has been happening...between helping grandparents and housework and my nanny job. I'm hoping to have a total of 45 college credits within the next two weeks. Wish me luck! ;)

My job as a nanny is, as always, a blast. And though there are definitely challenging days, I love "my girls" to pieces. Basically, I have two more adopted siblings that I get paid to watch. :P

To wrap up this post and explain my title, I added a ukulele to my collection (Patrick has a brother now!! :D) His name is Sean (pronounced sh-aw-n in case you, like me, have always thought that name was pronounced "seen". *shakes head* Irish people and their crazy pronunciation) and he is a concert ukulele. Patrick is a soprano uke, so its nice to have a slightly bigger one with a broader range and lower tone. :)

Also, you may have noticed that Valentine's Day happened. AND YES, RELEASING MY BOOK ON V-DAY WAS ON PURPOSE. XD I hope you all had a wonderful time eating chocolate and watching Hallmark videos. :P 

 

~WRITING ~

With the release of "Sleeping Handsome", I've given myself a sort of writing hiatus while I focus on my next college test, but as you have seen, I do have another project up my sleeve... B-) But more on that later.

 

~ MUSIC ~

Do to Valentine's Day having happened, I chose a couple favorite sweet songs to feature in this month's "favorite music of the month" section. You're welcome. ;)

 

 

 



 

 

~ ANNOUNCEMENT SECTION ~

 

First and foremost, special thanks to all of you who participated in the giveaway I hosted during the release of "Sleeping Handsome"!

Congrats to the three girls who got to come away with a prize! :)

Hanne and Abigail won two "The Princess and I" bookmarks each, and Ashley won a signed copy of "Sleeping Handsome"! :)

This month there is going to be a celebration for the first birthday of "The Princess and I" and so there will be another giveaway soon, I promise. ;)

 

 

Ok, second announcement: the last post I put on here was about a cover conundrum I was having with my collection of poetry I'm trying to publish at some point in the next couple months.

 

 

WELL.

 

With all the votes from you on the blog, family members, friends from church, and critique partners to total votes came out DEAD EVEN. Exactly 1/3 of everybody liked each of the covers. *face palm* 

 

SO.

 

Here is what I have decided to do. In order to solve the issue, I'm going to do something I have NEVER DONE BEFORE. I'm going to publish my poems in each cover and the buyer can choose which cover they prefer and buy that one. So its a win-win for everybody! :) I don't know why I hadn't thought of that before, but there you are. XD Also, I'll be adding a little more information to the first cover, so it's not QUITE as simple as it was. Anyways, closer to the release I'll be asking for help spreading the word again, so keep an eagle-eye out for that post.

 

I hope you all had an amazing February, and I hope you will have an amazing March. :)

 

Until next time, let everything you do be done for the glory of God!

 



A Call for HELP!!!

Guys, I'm here to present you with a conundrum. (Man, I love that word...) I've been fiddling around with a couple covers for my collection of poetry, which coincidentally I'm hoping to publish at some point this spring. HOWEVER. I have created three covers for it and found myself loving EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. OF. THEM. THE. EXACT. SAME. AMOUNT. So, to keep a long post short, I need your help. All of you are readers, most of you are authors. Which of these covers would you be most likely to buy, and which one would you prefer having your own work encased in? I'll put a poll on the side of my blog, and if you pity me AT ALL, please vote on your favorite cover, or comment below (or do both ;). I really appreciate any input you give me! Thanks for your amazing support and advice. I knew I could count on you!!

COVER #1: (a.k.a "The Typewriter")

 

COVER #2: (a.k.a "The Teacup")

COVER #3: (a.k.a "The Teenager")

 

Until next time, let everything you do be done for the glory of God!

Blog Tour for "Sleeping Handsome": Last Day

My book launched to the world yesterday, amidst a world of pink hearts and red sparkles. And, yes, I had it land on Valentine's Day on purpose. ;) It's called smart marketing y'all. :P

Here's the link to where my book can be found right now: BUY SLEEPING HANDSOME (ebook version) HERE or BUY SLEEPING HANDSOME (printed version) HERE!!!

Anyways, for this last day, I'm going to give you some more links to reviews, last quotes, one last snippet, and a reminder that the giveaway ENDS SOON. So if you haven't entered yet, DO. 'Cause free stuff is always cool. :) And last but not least, you'll get introduced to Prince Gregory. Ready? Lets do this! *fist pump*

Here's the links to the girls who are posting their reviews/spotlights. Check 'em out! :)

Faith's Review
Angela's Spotlight
Jesseca's Review, Spotlight, and Author Interview

~ The Summery ~

 

Minnie's goal was to have a fun, worry free vacation with her best friend Amy. A few weeks spent in their favorite far away place before they both went back to their respective colleges. A visit to the many famous sights across the British Isles has been on both their bucket lists for a very long time, after all.However, when a mysterious taxi driver mentions a legend that somehow concerns her ancestral heritage, she decides to dig deeper. After being accused of stealing the famous statue and tourist attraction known as Sleeping Handsome, Minnie and Amy are plunged into a world they would never have imagined existed.
Prince Gregory, after being awakened from being frozen in stone for hundreds of years, finds himself searching for his true love in order to reverse the stone spell on his kingdom and awaken the rest of his people. With his faithful horse Brutis by his side, he sets out to destroy his greatest enemy, release his kingdom from the stone spell, and win the heart of his princess.

 

~ Quotes ~

 

 

 

~The Snippet ~

With no further assurance, he leapt astride the noble steed and the two rode off into the distance…only to be stopped by the sudden appearance of a large body of water separating them from the mainland.

            “What’s this?” Prince Gregory muttered in astonishment.

            “The ocean, Your Majesty,” his horse replied helpfully.

            “Yes, I can see that,” the prince answered with an impatient wave of his hand, “but my kingdom wasn’t on an island, was it?”

            “No, sir, but it has been quite a long time since you were asleep, as we could tell from the crumbling wreckage your castle had become. We have most likely been asleep for hundreds of years. Water can carve canyons in that amount of time.”

            Brutis’ answer made sense, and Prince Gregory’s frown eased a bit. “Well how are we going to get across? I haven’t the time to make a boat, and this island doesn’t have the right materials for that anyways.”

            The horse shook his mane and looked back at his master. “Do you forget, Your Majesty, that I can fly?” he said.

            “Bless me, I had forgotten indeed. Well that certainly came in handy sooner than I had expected.” The prince moved his legs so they wouldn’t get in the way as Brutis unfurled his wings and began beating them up and down. “Let’s see what you can doooooooooo…”

            The last word turned into a startled howl as Brutis launched himself off the cliffs and plunged downward toward the sea.

 

~ Introducing: Prince Gregory ~

 

 

Closest personality type: ENFP/J

Most likely to: be overprotective, act like a human teddy bear, hand out random hugs to people who need them, or come save the day at the last moment possible, freaking everyone out in the process.

Least likely to: fail those he loves the most, be disloyal to anyone, go back on his word, or not answer the call of someone in need (a.k.a "damsel in distress" :P)

Favorite color: forest green

Favorite weather condition: light drizzle with a little fog

Family statistics: his father is the king of Stonesville Island, his mother the queen. He has no siblings, but treats his horse Brutis like a brother and they rarely leave each other's side.

 

~ The Giveaway ~

If you want either of the items pictured above, make sure you click on the link below and enter the giveaway (which runs through the end of this week)! Good luck! :)

(GIVEAWAY LINK HERE)

 

 

Special thanks to all the girls who took part in the blog tour! I had so much fun reading your reviews, and I hope any of you who have ordered my book already will enjoy it when it arrives. For those of you who haven't gotten my book yet WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, I GAVE YOU THE LINK??!?!?! XD

 

God bless!

 

Until next time, let everything you do be done for the glory of God! :D

Blog Tour for "Sleeping Handsome": RELEASE DAY!!!!

I'm trying to keep it together, guys...but I'm SO SUPER EXCITED ABOUT TODAY!!!!! Prepare yourself for lots of squealing and grins. ;) Why?

My.

Book.

Is.

Available.  

TODAY!!!!!!!!!!

Here's the link to where my book can be found right now: BUY SLEEPING HANDSOME (ebook version) HERE or BUY SLEEPING HANDSOME (printed version) HERE!!!

You guys can actually BUY it now. Due to Amazon being finicky and slooooooooow, I have to say that I don't think my book will be on there for another couple weeks, HOWEVER, you can get my book for a discounted price (25% off, y'all...now's your chance!!) on Lulu until it shows up on Amazon in order to make up for having to pay shipping. Also, if you order the e-book on Lulu, it does allow you to open it in iBooks if you have that kind of device. :) (I know because I tried. ;)

But now, onto the goodies. :P

First, some links to a few girls who are going to give you all their reviews and thoughts on my lil' book. Be sure to check them out and see what they think of my story.

Janelle's Review

Abigail's Review

Hanne's Review and Book Spotlight

~ The Summery ~

Minnie's goal was to have a fun, worry free vacation with her best friend Amy. A few weeks spent in their favorite far away place before they both went back to their respective colleges. A visit to the many famous sights across the British Isles has been on both their bucket lists for a very long time, after all.
However, when a mysterious taxi driver mentions a legend that somehow concerns her ancestral heritage, she decides to dig deeper. After being accused of stealing the famous statue and tourist attraction known as Sleeping Handsome, Minnie and Amy are plunged into a world they would never have imagined existed.
Prince Gregory, after being awakened from being frozen in stone for hundreds of years, finds himself searching for his true love in order to reverse the stone spell on his kingdom and awaken the rest of his people. With his faithful horse Brutis by his side, he sets out to destroy his greatest enemy, release his kingdom from the stone spell, and win the heart of his princess.

~ Quotes ~

~ Snippet ~

Amy bounced up and down a couple times, ignoring the fact that it had begun to rain. “There is so much I want to do, and only a couple weeks to do it all in! I want to see the Queen’s Guard, and London Bridge, and Big Ben, and all the beautiful quaint things around the countryside, and the…” she was cut off by the sudden arrival of the taxi. 

Minnie let out a sigh of relief as an invisible load lifted off her shoulders. She had been about ready to call the taxi service and complain about the delay when the car had finally pulled up. 

“I claim shotgun!” Amy announced, dashing through the rain to tug open the door. She suddenly stopped, almost colliding with the driver as he got out of the right side of the car.

Her face flamed red, and she backed away with muttered apologies. Minnie came over and gave her friend a sympathetic look. “They drive on the opposite side of the vehicle,” she explained.
“I know, I know. I just forgot.” Amy rolled her eyes and giggled. “I’ll remember next time, I’m sure. And I still claim shotgun, even if it’s on the other side!”

~ Introducing: Amy Sparks ~

 

Closest personality type: ESF/TP

Most likely to: blurt out exactly what she is thinking at any given moment, apologize for no reason, hug random adorable animals, and walk while texting.

Least likely to: have long, deep conversations, be alone for more than five minutes (unless she's asleep), or hesitate before plunging wholeheartedly into something that might be a bad idea.

Favorite color: light blue

Favorite weather condition: sunshine with some clouds
Family statistics: Amy's dad works with Minnie's dad, which was how the two met originally. Her mom doesn't have a career job, but loves writing poetry and publishing them sometimes in a local paper. She has one sibling, an older sister, named Samantha.

~ The Giveaway ~

If you want either of the items pictured above, make sure you click on the link below and enter the giveaway (which runs through the end of this week)! Good luck! :)

(GIVEAWAY LINK HERE)

Come back tomorrow for more links to reviews, more quotes, one last snippet, and meet our last main character, Prince Gregory!

And before I forget, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!! <3

Blog Tour for "Sleeping Handsome": Day One

TOMORROW. My little book is getting released to the world tomorrow. AND I COULDN'T be more thrilled/nervous/actuallymoreliketerrifiedwithadashofhysteria.

Today I'm going to share with you a couple quotes, an exclusive snippet of my lil' story, and a deeper look into my main character, Minnie Matthews. At the end of the post, I'm giving you a link to a giveaway where you can enter to win a paperback copy of "Sleeping Handsome" or two "The Princess and I" bookmarks.

But first,

~ The Summery ~

Minnie's goal was to have a fun, worry free vacation with her best friend Amy. A few weeks spent in their favorite far away place before they both went back to their respective colleges. A visit to the many famous sights across the British Isles has been on both their bucket lists for a very long time, after all.
However, when a mysterious taxi driver mentions a legend that somehow concerns her ancestral heritage, she decides to dig deeper. After being accused of stealing the famous statue and tourist attraction known as Sleeping Handsome, Minnie and Amy are plunged into a world they would never have imagined existed.
Prince Gregory, after being awakened from being frozen in stone for hundreds of years, finds himself searching for his true love in order to reverse the stone spell on his kingdom and awaken the rest of his people. With his faithful horse Brutis by his side, he sets out to destroy his greatest enemy, release his kingdom from the stone spell, and win the heart of his princess.

~ The Quotes ~

~The Snippet ~

            “Oh, this is Brutis. He’s Prince Gregory’s horse.” Amy made the introductions after getting up close to Brutis’ ear and then yelling “THE PRINCE IS IN DANGER! HELP! HELP!”

            With a startled snort, Brutis jumped to his feet and searched the room in bewilderment. “What? Where?” He caught sight of Amy right next to him and frowned. “I told you not to do that unless there’s an emergency situation," he said sulkily.

            Amy patted him. “I want to introduce you to my family and Minnie’s family real quick, then you’re welcome to go back to moping.”

            “That’s not an emergency situation,” the horse muttered while bowing to the family members.

~Introducing: Minnie Matthews ~

Closest personality type: IST/FJ

Most likely to: endlessly worry about details that most would consider unnecessary, obsess over the little things, or take any and all responsibility on her own shoulders...even when it's not needed.

Least likely to: do anything random or thoughtless, pet a live animal, or put her feelings out in the open for anybody to see.

Favorite color: purple

Favorite weather condition: rain/overcast
Family statistics: her dad is a mechanic in a local car shop, her mom works from home as an interior designer, and she has two younger brothers: Colton and Finnegan.

~ The Giveaway ~

da bookmarks (Thanks Kaitlyn! :)

da paperback book (thanks...me? :P)

If you want either of the items pictured above, make sure you click on the link below and enter the giveaway! Good luck! :)

(GIVEAWAY LINK HERE)

Join me tomorrow for more quotes, another snippet, and some links to a few blogs who are reviewing my book for me. :) So if you don't want to take MY word for it, you can take THIERS. ;P



Cover Reveal for "A Question of Loyalty" by Jesseca Wheaton

Friends, you know it's a good series when the announcement of a final book is such a bitter-sweet thing. I may be a TAD biased of my dear authoress friend's works, but this series has been one of the most heart-rending, sweet, and sorrowful reads I have ever had. <3 The way she captures the lives of people during WWII is perfection. Just...wow.
I am beyond honored to bring to introduce to you guys her third and final book of the Question of War series: A Question of Loyalty. If this book is ANYTHING like the first two, you will treasure it on your bookshelf forever, reading it again and again even though each time you read it the story and characters rip your heart out of your chest, stomp all over it, and replace it broken and bleeding...but somehow healed at the same time.

Without further ado, let me reveal to you the beautiful cover that binds an equally beautiful finale (I say this with the utmost confidence in Jesseca's authorship) to a beautiful series. :)

Here's a summery (though not the final one) which will give you a taste of what this book holds in store for you. (I'm really excited about this one because Ann is one if my favorite characters. :D #ArtandAnnforever #teamARN #ishipthem)

 

 

A Man. A Brother. A Traitor.
The war has taken everything Micah Wilson has ever held dear, and with all his being he wishes he could do something to stop the heartache. But he often wonders if he'll ever be able to move on after the war, or forget the brother who left six years before. How can God still have a plan, when it seems that the world around him is falling to pieces, to say nothing of his own heart?

Ann Wilson has seen two brothers changed by the war. And she's resolved to do something to stop the pain she sees in their eyes from becoming a reality for so many others. The world is on the brink of Normandy when her nursing unit is shipped to England, and while there, an unexpected encounter promises to change her own life . . . Forever. But it's only the beginning. As the war in Europe rages on, Ann is caught in the crossfires. And when the unthinkable happens, she comes face to face with the evil of the Third Reich. Is it possible that the reality of it all is more deadly than even her worst nightmares?

Erich Essler never questioned his duty to his country. All his life he's struggled to live up to his father's expectations, and bring honor to the Essler name. But when the man he thought of as his only friend turns out to be the enemy, he can no longer rid himself of the questions that continue to torment him. Is what he's doing really honorable? And does he owe his loyalty to his country . . . Or a higher power?

Freedom for Europe dawns on the distant horizon. But in the midst of the fight, four lives will be forever changed, and their loyalty to God and Country brought into question.

*Not final blurb*

The genius behind the book belongs to this delightful, sweet young lady:

 

 

Jesseca is a daughter, sister, and a child of God. Her days are spent reading, cooking, spending time with siblings, or playing piano. And writing, of course! At an early age words fascinated her, and her love for the printed page has only grown. She lives with her parents and seven siblings in the sunny state of Kansas, and she’s convinced there’s no place like home. Though, being in the sky is pretty awesome, too.

You have my permission to stalk her and fangirl at her things as much as you want! ;)

Website~Blog~Amazon~Goodreads~GooglePlus~Pinterest~Instagram

I anxiously await the release of this book. There's a gap on my bookshelf just WAITING to be filled, to complete the series, and I am so excited to see that happen. ;)

300 Posts!! Blog tour for "SLEEPING HANDSOME"!! Read all about it!!

Well, folks. This is it. This is the post you have all been looking for. *waves Jedi hand persuasively*

This is my 300th post. Like, WHAAAAAAT? I know, I'm shocked too. With almost five years of blogging under my belt, it shouldn't come as a surprise...but it does. And so here I am.

*cue confetti*

*and fireworks*

*and fanfare*

*hands out virtual ice cream cones with chocolate syrup and sprinkles*

NOW. Onto part TWO of this post. I know I should elaborate (I like that word) on my celebration of having authored 300 posts, but honestly I'm too excited about this next part to put it off any longer. ;)

I'm getting ready to host a blog tour for the release of "Sleeping Handsome" from February 13th through February 15th. (The release date being sandwiched in the middle...as it should be.) Any and all of you are welcome to sign-up for that >> HERE << *points aggressively at link*.
Not only will you have the chance to get a free PDF copy if you want to do a review, but also you'll get a chance to host awesome stuff on your own blogs like fun quotes, a cool giveaway, and interrogate me about my book. B-)

For any of you unable to participate, that's ok. I'll be linking to all the blogs on my own blog each of the days, so you can visit all of them for a better perspective on what my book is like and some exclusive interviews with Yours Truly.

Each day of the tour, I'll be supplying you guys with some fun facts about each main human character I mentioned briefly in my cover reveal post, and some fun snippets as well as a link at the bottom for a giveaway which includes a signed, paperback copy of "Sleeping Handsome" (what? Yep, you read that right a PAPERBACK COPY) and some beautiful "The Princess and I" bookmarks designed by none other than our own dear Kaitlyn Krispense and signed by Yours Truly.

I think that's all for now. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below and I'll answer them ASAP. And again, if you're interested in being a part of the blog tour PLEASE fill out the form by clicking on the link above!

To those of you who do end up entering, here's an early THANK YOU. I can't wait to read all your posts and see what you guys think of my book! :)

21 Answers to the Question: What is Your Book About?

I'm stalling so that my next post (my 300th post) will be on the same day I post about blog tour sign-ups for "Sleeping Handsome". :) And since I haven't done a 21 Answers post in awhile, I thought I'd give you one. 
As an author, I can't tell you how many times I've gotten this question after someone finds out I wrote a book. And I NEVER know how to respond. No matter how many times I practice in a mirror at home, I always fail to come up with something intelligent. Below are a few of the responses I often end up giving, a couple that I've thought about giving, and more that I threw in there as possible choices and to get the number of answers up to 21. ;)
Enjoy!

#1: "Oh, you know...stuff."

#2: "There's this person, who does this thing. And it's cool."

#3: "Instead of me explaining it to you, you should probably just read it yourself." (Insert link to website where they can access you book. Marketing, guys, MARKETING.)

#4: *long explanation that makes no sense because you keep trying to cover up spoilers and tend to ramble*

#5: "I'm not ready for the world to know yet...or ever."

#6: "Man, even I don't know what my book is about!"

#7: "You'd better sit down."

#8: *blank expression*

#9: Drag over a friend that's read your book and say, "Here, ask them about it."

#10: Shudder and whisper hoarsely, "You don't want to know."

#11: Pick a word at random, have it be something different every time...just for fun. (Ex: "cauliflower", "lawn mowers", "cheese", "snowflakes", etc.) Don't forget to say the word with confidence so that the asker believes you. ;)

#12: "Beats me!" *shrug*

#13: "Somethin'."

#14: *groan* "Where do I even start?"

#15: The cheater's answer: read the synopsis off the back of your book. (If you have one, that is...if you don't, try reading the synopsis off someone else's book and test the asker's reading knowledge.)

#16: "Dost thou know what thou asketh, fiend?"

#17: *blushes* *stutters* *changes subject*

#18: "Tea anyone?"

#19: FAINT. Everyone will freak out, and hopefully forget about the question in the meantime. If it comes up again, faint again. Eventually the asker will stop asking that question. Trust me on that one.

#20: "Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies."

#21: If all else fails, you COULD come up with an actual, good response. Like, maybe work up a clever five sentence sell-out paragraph that makes whoever asks you about your book want to buy it...but who has time for that?


Which was/were your favorite response/s? Which response/s have you used before, if any? If you're a fellow author, which responses do you find yourself using a lot? (HELP ME)

Hope y'all enjoyed this post! I'll be back next time with a celebration post and blog tour sign-ups! :D

Thanking God for Small Miracles (Sam's Story)

 

Some of you may have seen that my youngest brother had his appendix rupture a couple days ago, probably from prayer requests on various social media sites. To say the least, it was a frightening situation. One of those scares where your heart skips a beat and your lungs refuse to work properly for a couple seconds.

William stayed by Sam's side throughout most of his hospital stay (coming home for nights and Sunday church). It was so cute watching him worry about his little brother. These two have always been really close, and it was during this time that that really showed. :)

It started on Wednesday afternoon, January 17th. Sam complained of an upset stomach and was kept home from prayer meeting that evening after vomiting a couple different times.
At first, we thought it was just the flu bug, assuming he had caught it from our cousins who had barely recovered the week before. However, as each day went by with no improvement, Mom's worries steadily grew. Sam wasn't able to eat anything, and couldn't keep any liquids down. He complained of severe pain in his mid-section, and could hardly walk upright.
With these symptom's in mind, Mom did some research and finally came to the conclusion that it might be appendicitis. She immediately called our Urgent Care and scheduled an appointment for Samuel on Saturday morning, January 20th.
After an ultra-sound confirmed her fears, Sam was taken by ambulance to Mary's Bridge Children's Hospital where he was to wait for surgery.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the rest of the family had to go about our daily Saturday business. Nerves were stretched to the breaking point while we waited for news...any news...from Mom. I took the boys to a basketball game, and Margaret made sure the house got clean with the other kids' help.
Prayers for Sam's safety had already begun, multiple family's from church and other friends came up to us during the basketball game to say they were praying and ask if they could do anything to help.
It wasn't long after this that I got the text that nearly made my heart stop. Sam's appendix had ruptured. It was at this moment when it really hit me that Sam could DIE. In the back of my mind, I knew a lot of people survived a ruptured appendix, but after what happened to the Houston and Simao family last year, I had this terrible sinking feeling that we were next.
When our Assistant Pastor and his wife heard that turn of events, they went all the way out to the hospital to give my parents and Sam a visit.
The next couple hours were probably the most nerve-wracking, frustrating hours of my entire life. Sam, our little ray of sunshine, our precious red-headed caboose, was mid-surgery in what could easily turn into a life-threatening situation. And I could do nothing about it. There was no way I could help him. No way I could ease his pain. Helpless and fearful for his life, us kids at home tried to carry on with normal life. It was easy for my mind to fill with all the 'what if...' questions. What if Mom hadn't brought in Sam when she did? What if Sam's appendix had ruptured earlier? And of course the unspeakable question on my mind: What if Sam didn't make it?
Prayer and support poured in from our amazing friends and family, reminding us that we were not in this struggle alone.
Saturday night, after dinner at our cousin's house, we learned that Sam was out of surgery and doing ok, despite a few complications that would keep him in the hospital for several more days. I could almost feel the tension dissipate after we heard the news. It was like our family let out a collective sigh of relief as the invisible burden lifted off our shoulders.

William read basically the entire Wingfeather Saga
to Sam while he was laid up. :)

Sam is still in the hospital recovering, but almost back to normal. He was thrilled to be placed in a room on the fish-themed floor of the hospital, and declared that the pancake he ate Sunday morning was "the best breakfast EVER." (This pancake was the first food he had eaten in four days, so it's no wonder it tasted so great.)

We look forward to having our little guy back at home, and continue to praise God for his wonderful mercy toward us and our little brother.

God is SO good.

Our family had planned to be on a vacation at Cannon Beach this week, but because my younger sister was having a surgery on her foot, we ended up canceling a month ago. Pastor Miller was able to step in and preach on Sunday morning so Dad didn't have to worry about a sermon AND a sick son. Despite the weekend being as busy as ever, we were able to cover all the bases and people stepped in to help us where help was needed. I'm still overwhelmed by how we were able to make it through the weekend. It's almost like God knew this was going to happen or something.

And I can't say how thankful I am to all of you who prayed with us through our trial and continue to pray for Sam's speedy recovery. He has no idea how much he is loved, but we do, and I wanted to tell all of you on his behalf that we are so grateful for your support and love and prayers.

Even though surviving the removal of an appendix is a common thing, even after they ruptured, I will always consider Sam's story a miracle. Truly, God IS our refuge and strength, our very help in times of trouble. Whom shall we fear? God is on our side. With Him for us, who can stand against us?

Until next time, let everything you do be done for the glory of God!

Yep, This is THAT Post: (In Which I Finally Reveal the Cover for "Sleeping Handsome")

This is the day that I'll be giving you guys THE announcement and cover reveal for my newest ebook (to be published soon) "Sleeping Handsome". Before I give you the long awaited cover image, I have to thank the girl who made this all possible: Jessica Greyson. She did such a beautiful job on this cover. Not only did she do all of the work behind it, but she even made promo materiel and designed some of my quotes into gorgeous pictures.
Guys, if you're in need of a good cover designer, I HIGHLY recommend her work. Definitely want to use her help again at some point, because I fell in love with what she did. ^_^ Check out her blog (link in her name) and help this talented young lady's business grow! :)

But now, since you probably skipped all of this the first time anyways, and have already seen the cover at this point, HERE is the cover for my upcoming ebook "Sleeping Handsome" to be released on, or as near as possible to, Valentine's Day: February 14th, 2018!

*dramatic pause*

I know, I know, it's awfully perfect, huh? ;) *sighs happily* The aesthetic appeal, the simplicity, yet complexity, the hint of mystery with a touch of romance...PERFECTION. I told you.

Here is the book's summery (as written by me, so don't get too excited):

Minnie's goal was to have a fun, worry free vacation with her best friend Amy. A few weeks spent in their favorite far away place before they both went back to their respective colleges. A visit to the many famous sights across the British Isles has been on both their bucket lists for a very long time, after all.
However, when a mysterious taxi driver mentions a legend that somehow concerns her ancestral heritage, she decides to dig deeper. After being accused of stealing the famous statue and tourist attraction known as Sleeping Handsome, Minnie and Amy are plunged into a world they would never have imagined existed.
Prince Gregory, after being awakened from being frozen in stone for hundreds of years, finds himself searching for his true love in order to reverse the stone spell on his kingdom and awaken the rest of his people. With his faithful horse Brutis by his side, he sets out to destroy his greatest enemy, release his kingdom from the stone spell, and win the heart of his princess.

Now, for some beautifully designed quotes! (Feel free to share these on Pinterest, Instagram, Google+, or whatever your favorite social media site is. I would appreciate all the marketing you give my book. Seriously, its YOU GUYS who sell my books, not me. I'm not even kidding.)

For our cast of characters, I have the three main HUMAN characters, Minnie, Amy, and Prince Gregory. There's another important main character, (my personal favorite, actually) but you'll have to READ MY BOOK to find out about him. *evil author chuckle*

The main character in my book is Minnie. She's one of those quiet, stable minded types that like to over-plan and over-think EVERYTHING. She is naturally bent toward being "the responsible one" and dislikes being coddled. Minnie enjoys the quiet things in life like being out in nature and the early morning hours before anyone else is awake.

Minnie's best friend, Amy, is in a way her complete opposite. This girl is a bubbly, effervescent extrovert who obsesses over old castles and is addicted to social media. A strange combination of hopeless romantic of all things medieval and electronic geek who owns all the newest gadgets, she puzzles most people with her mix of quick thinking and absentminded daydreaming.

Prince Gregory makes the third of our main cast. The ever steady, ever strong, ever faithful and gentle face he shows on the outside hide a mischievous sense of humor and tendency to create a whirlwind of excitement wherever he goes. With his cheerful nature and optimistic outlook on life, its impossible to NOT like him. And for a certain someone, it was impossible not to fall in love. ;) Ok, I promise I won't get all mushy-gushy on you. :P

*pictures of characters from my board on Pinterest:
Story <> Sleeping Handsome

So, what do you think about the book?
Excited to read it yet? (I hope so!)
Which character looks like it will probably end up being your favorite?
Which one was most similar in personality to you?
Would any of you be interested in me making a quiz type thing where you can figure out which character you "are"? (I put that in parenthesis because the tests usually just tell you which one you're closest too. Obviously none of my characters are an exact copy of your personality...maybe B-)

Be sure to check out the other blogs who are taking part in the cover reveal! :D Thanks so much for all your excitement! THIS is why cover reveals and blog tours are some of my favorite posts to write. THIS is why I keep trying to complete stories. YOU GUYS ROCK. :D

Until next time, let everything you do be done for the glory of God!

Cover Reveal Sign-up for "Sleeping Handsome"

It's been hard to hold back on this. I'm super anxious to share this story with you all, but I want it to be in the best possible condition BEFORE that happens. *sigh* Sometimes I wish I had Mary Poppins's ability to just snap my fingers and have everything be perfect. Don't we all, right?

However, I'm excited to announce that the cover reveal for "Sleeping Handsome" is going to be held between the 14th-16th of this month, the first day being (hopefully) the one month mark until "Sleeping Handsome" is actually released!

So, now's the time where you all go sign up to help me spread the word about my story, and...be the FIRST ONES to see the beautiful cover, as designed by the talented Jessica Grayson!

Click on THIS LINK to head over to the sign-up page and I'll get the info to those of you who decide to help out soon. 

As part of the cover reveal, though, I have to remind you...NO ONE ELSE GETS TO SEE THE COVER. At least, not until I tell you that you can share it with the world. ;) Please be considerate and have fun with the secrecy, ok? When you get the information, don't give it out to other people until the date you sign up for. Thanks again for those of you who commit to this! It means bunches! :D <3

Also, while I'm on here, have you noticed the gorgeous new blog design? ^_^ Special thanks to Savannah Grace for all the work she put in to it, all the headache of working with a blog template that had a mind of its own, and the time she spent making the images and helping me look more or less organized. ;) I really appreciate it, girl! You're the best! :D