When God says Wait…

Tuesday, November 21, 2023



 So today’s post is a bit out of left field, but it’s something I’ve been thinking a lot on. And I know a lot of people who are in the same boat right now with various struggles or matters of waiting, so I thought I’d share. 

I was wrestling a bit the other day with the knowledge that God was telling me to be patient. It’s a pretty normal conversation at this point. I don’t enjoy the topic to begin with, and it feels like this year has been stacked with big things I just have to hurry up and wait on. Instability, things out of my control but I know they’re coming around the bend.


There are books I want to release YESTERDAY. 

Ideas I can’t get to yet.

A horse I want to be done training before I barely started. (That’s a self-induced problem.) 

Business ideas I want to try but can’t just yet. 

And many, many other things personally. There’s a holding pattern right now, one that tells me that a whole lot of things will change soon, but when exactly is soon?


God reminded me of the verse that says He will go before you (Deut. 31:8).


But I’m a very impatient person, and I know a lot of people who are waiting like me. Which is why I’m sharing this. 


So naturally, I was complaining to Him a little bit. “I know I asked for answers and guidance and I got that, but now I’ve gotta WAIT?”


 And He immediately brought to mind several things I need to be cultivating in the meantime. Habits I could improve or lose. Projects He wants me to work on first. Discipline when I’m used to jumping headlong into something once I’ve finished waffling in indecision (which is…often).  And yes. Patience. 


And once I had that mental list down…I just heard in the back of my mind, “Don’t you think I was working on all these things long before you even knew to pray about it?”


That was a bit of a reality check for sure. Because He has. He had it all figured out before we even existed. Sure, we have free will—but He knows what will happen, what we’ll choose. It’s a matter of discernment and obedience now. What He has planned will come to fruition if we follow Him…even if we have to wait. 


Sarah had to wait.

Joseph had to wait. 

Jacob had to wait.

Moses had to wait (and never got to enter the Promised Land).

All of Israel had to wait, over and over again, due to their disobedience — but God was there each time, ready to fulfill His covenant with His people. 

Jesus Himself only began His ministry in the appointed time: which meant about thirty years before the few wild, impactful, dangerous and wonderful years He ministered, healed, discipled the Twelve, and fulfilled His purpose on earth. 


All this to say: Maybe our seasons of “waiting” aren’t just us sitting on our hands. 


Maybe it isn’t scraping by on another lesson on patience that’s quickly discarded next time.


Maybe it’s reflection to become closer to God. Letting go of shackles of fear, depression, insecurity, pride, and a good many other things that keep us back or cause us to be prone to ignoring God’s calling on our life. 


Maybe it’s asking Him what we can improve on in the meantime. Because we all have a laundry list. 


Maybe waiting involves thankfulness…er, it should. Because if God caved and gave us what we begged for before we were ready, or when what we wanted didn’t line up with what He knew we needed…it could have disastrous consequences. Not only for our lives, but for the lives of others we might be witnessing to. Maybe waiting protects us too.


Maybe it’s having the faith to trust that God will bring to fruition His perfect will, and the holding pattern is equal parts “Peace, be still” and getting ourselves right so we’re ready to say “Here I am,” when God says it’s time.





Black Friday & Cyber Monday Book Sale Bash!

Sunday, November 19, 2023

 An epic list of indie author sales! If you're looking to load up that Kindle, now's the time to grab some epic reads. There are also a few paperback sales listed here! Click the book title to go straight to the sale page, and don't forget to click the author's name to check out their social media.




Fantasy

Etania's Worth - M.H. Elrich - $0.99 
Etania's Calling - M.H. Elrich - $0.99 
Toothbreaker - M.H. Elrich - $0.99 
Beginnings - M.H. Elrich - $0.99 
(Christian Fantasy; negative portrayals of alcoholism, drug use, off-page sexual immorality, demon possession/rituals and PG-13 level violence. Follow M.H. Elrich on Goodreads, plus Instagram and Facebook under @mhelrichbooks.)


The Lady of Lanaria - Michaela Bush - Free 
The Healer of the Brigade - Michaela Bush - Free
The Highlander's Victory - Michaela Bush - $0.99 
(Series depicts violence and portrays witchcraft in a negative light.) 


Contemporary

Guynatomy - Camille Caliman - $1.99 on Black Friday & Cyber Monday
(Content: non-gratuitous child abuse & drug abuse mentioned) 

Love in the Headlines - Penny Zeller - $0.99
Love Under Construction - Penny Zeller - $0.99
Henry and Evaline - Penny Zeller - $0.99

PAPERBACK: The Strength in Rubble - S. F. Brooke - $12.99 

Mount Sterling Trilogy - Michaela Bush - Free 

Back To Me - Michaela Bush - Free
Between Us - Michaela Bush - Free
(Series briefly depicts sexual harassment in a non-gratuitous manner.) 


Nonmagical Fantasy

Deceived - Madisyn Carlin - $0.99
Iron (The Redwyn Chronicles #1)- Madisyn Carlin - $0.99
Key (The Redwyn Chronicles #1.5) - Madisyn Carlin - $0.99 
Arrow (The Redwyn Chronicles #2) - Madisyn Carlin - $0.99
Shattered Reflection (The Shattered Lands #1) - Madisyn Carlin - $0.99 
Shattered Reaction (The Shattered Lands #2) - Madisyn Carlin - $0.99 
(Both series address human trafficking in a non-explicit, non-gratuitous manner.) 

A Dance of Rebels - Michaela Bush - $0.99 until November 30th
(Addresses human trafficking in a non-explicit or gratuitous manner.) 


Nonfiction

Back To Him: A Thirty Day Devotional on Giving Up Old Hurts and Relying on God - Michaela Bush - Free


Thriller

Seek - Angela R. Watts - $0.99

PAPERBACK: Names on the Tower - S. F. Brooke - $4.99


Dystopian

Up from the Ashes - Angela R. Watts - $0.99

Paradise Lost - Angela R. Watts - $0.99

The Divided Nation - Angela R. Watts - $0.99

Those With Ears - Makenzie Gray - Free
Let Them Hear - Makenzie Gray - Free
Eyes To See - Makenzie Gray - Free
Remnant of Us - Makenzie Gray - $0.99 
(Series contains violence throughout.)



Sci-Fi

Starganauts (Starganauts Book One)- C. E. Stone - $0.99
Starganauts: Retribution (Starganauts Book Two) - C. E. Stone - $0.99
(Content: a character struggles with addiction, presented non-graphically and as a negative thing the character seeks help for.) 
Starganauts: Defector (Starganauts Book Three) - C. E. Stone - $0.99 
(Content: non-graphic violence)
Also follow C. E. Stone on Instagram @ce_stone, subscribe to the newsletter, and follow on Goodreads!

War of the Fallen - Angela R. Watts - $0.99


Gritty Fantasy

Golgotha - Angela R. Watts - $0.99

A Solstice of Fire and Light - Angela R. Watts - $0.99

Middle Grade Fantasy
Winter of the Bees - Angela R. Watts - $0.99

Romance

Oh, The Fallen - Abigail Harris - Free 

A Forever Summer - Havelah McLat - $2.99
(Content: Deals with child trauma, loss, and grief)
When You Returned - Havelah McLat - $2.99
(Content: Loss, sibling loss, abandonment, and past trauma)

Faith, Hope, and Love Collection, Volume One - Michaela Bush - Free 

Anthologies 
Seize the Night - curated by Abigail Harris - $0.99
Seize the Love - curated by Abigail Harris - $0.99
Seize the Fight - curated by Abigail Harris - $0.99
Seize the Moment - curated by Abigail Harris - $0.99
(For these anthologies, there may be some mention of characters struggling with addiction represented in a non-gratuitous manner.)  

Popsicles - Camille Caliman - $1.99 on Black Friday & Cyber Monday
House Blend - Camille Caliman - $1.99 on Black Friday & Cyber Monday


Young Adult
The Keeper- Erin Phillips - $0.99
The Varken - Erin Phillips - $0.99 
(Both are YA Fantasy! Also follow Erin Phillips @erinphillipsauthor on Instagram.)

Fate of a Prince - Hannah Gaudette - $3.99 ebook and $10.99 Paperback BLACK FRIDAY ONLY
Destiny of a King - Hannah Gaudette - $3.99 ebook and $8.55 Paperback  BLACK FRIDAY ONLY
(Both are YA Fantasy! Also follow Hannah Gaudette @hannahgaudetteauthor on Facebook.)

A World Within Roots - Anne Elizabeth - $2.99
(YA Fantasy!)

Nefarious Creatures  - Camille Caliman - $1.99 on Black Friday & Cyber Monday
The Quest for Og - Camille Caliman - $1.99 on Black Friday & Cyber Monday
The Captain and Other Stories - Camille Caliman - $1.99 on Black Friday & Cyber Monday
Into the Garden  - Camille Caliman - $1.99 on Black Friday & Cyber Monday
The Merchant's Pearl - Camille Caliman - $1.99 on Black Friday & Cyber Monday
(All of the above are YA Fantasy!)

Historical

The Guardian: A Three Sisters Novel - Abbigail Raine B. - $2.99 (May be lower in USD; price is listed in Canadian Dollar!) 
Forgotten Memories - Penny Zeller - $0.99 
Dreams of the Heart - Penny Zeller - $0.99 
Love's New Beginnings  - Penny Zeller - $0.99
Over the Horizon - Penny Zeller - $0.99
Love in Disguise - Penny Zeller - $0.99
Love from Afar - Penny Zeller - $0.99
Love Unforeseen - Penny Zeller - $0.99
Love Most Certain  - Penny Zeller - $0.99
Freedom's Flight - Penny Zeller - $0.99


Poetry

Popsicles - Camille Caliman - $1.99 on Black Friday & Cyber Monday

House Blend - Camille Caliman - $1.99 on Black Friday & Cyber Monday

Everything I Never Said - Michaela Bush - Free

Everything And Nothing - Michaela Bush - Free

everything i became - Michaela Bush - Free

RELEASE DAY: THE HIGHLANDER'S VICTORY!

Monday, November 6, 2023

 Hey everyone!
The laaaaast release of the year. (For me, anyway.) It's been four weeks straight of release days, and I'm beyond blessed to be on that wild ride, but I'm also very thankful to be done, haha. The Highlander's Victory is live on Amazon (paperback and Kindle!) today! Thank you so much for your continued support of the Legends of Lanaria series; I barely marketed this one at all (really dropped the ball, honestly) and still got just about as many preorders as I have for the other books in the series, which was pretty cool. So I appreciate you all!

AMAZON | GOODREADS


So what's next?

I have a few fun ideas planned for next year that I'm hard at work on, including once monthly Freelance Fridays which will offer advice on a variety of topics, from building a business to editing and honing your writing craft. I hope to be able to serve folks with encouragement and constructive information to jump-start their own entrepreneurial streak! I also have about 8 (million) WIPs planned out, plotted, and ready to go, which I'll be sharing about very, very soon. Once I catch my breath. But if you enjoy contemporaries, I've got you. If you enjoy historical fantasy, I've got you. If you enjoy grittier fantasy, I've got you too. Dystopian? Mak Gray's got ya. If you enjoy poetry...got'cha. Plus a few more that I have to keep my mouth shut on for now...

In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for sales, some pretty exciting stuff coming up Thanksgiving week, and newsletters coming soon! 

COVER REVEAL: Between the Sound and Sea by Amanda Cox!

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

 Hey everyone! Today I'm thrilled to share the cover reveal for Amanda Cox's upcoming novel, Between the Sound and Sea which is coming out August 6, 2024! Check out the blurb and preorder below!


ABOUT THE BOOK

Every family has its secrets. Josephina Harris wouldn't mind if her family still had a few of their own after a lawsuit tarnishes their name. When an opportunity opens to become a temporary keeper of a decommissioned lighthouse on a North Carolina island, she jumps at the chance to escape her small town to oversee its restoration.  

 

As the work begins, "Joey" discovers strange notes tucked deep in the crevices of the old stone walls--pages torn from a lighthouse keeper's log signed by someone named Mae who recounts harrowing rescues at sea. Fascinated by a woman lighthouse keeper, Joey digs into the past only to discover there's never been a record of a lighthouse keeper by that name.

 

When things start to go amiss on the island, locals are convinced that it is the ghost of the lighthouse keeper and his daughter who were lost at sea during World War II. As Joey sifts through decades of rumors and legends and puts together the pieces of the past, what emerges is a love story--one that's not over yet.

 

Multiple Christy Award winner Amanda Cox is your guide upon the raging seas of young love, heartbreaking loss, and learning to risk it all for a chance at happiness in this timeless novel.

BAKER BOOK HOUSE (40% off and free shipping) | AMAZON | GOODREADS | FOLLOW AMANDA COX



And now for the cover!



Isn't that cool?! Let me know what you think in the comments! Have you read any Amanda Cox novels?

RELEASE DAY: REMNANT OF US by Makenzie Gray

Monday, October 30, 2023

 Today's the dayyyyy! 

If you hate cliffhangers and told me to stop after the cliffhanger in Eyes To See...
Well...
It just happened, I'm sorry. 


It's release day! If you've been following the Midnight Hour series, you'll want to grab a copy of Remnant of Us ASAP. The $0.99 preorder price will stay through today, and the paperbacks are live now as well! In case you're new here or just haven't seen the blurb because I'm doing a terrible job marketing, here it is: 

Following the heels of Halfway’s destruction, the survivors must fight their way to escape the Order’s grip as well as a new rebel group. Navigating the new horrors they’ve discovered, truth mixes with fiction. The dead are alive; traitors in the midst. Who can they trust now?

As the world spins closer to The End, the mission of the Unmarked must shift in order to survive. Turmoil unfolds as the world prepares for war. Allies of the Order are assassinated as Tarik Azrael ascends in power. And as the heavens pause before the final battle, the unthinkable explodes.

A story on seeing and following Adonai’s plan when we are broken beyond repair, REMNANT OF US is the fourth installment of the Midnight Hour series.

Live on Amazon HERE

If you've been a bit appalled by the length of the second and third books in the series, this one is substantially shorter but no less action-packed! 


Have you been reading the Midnight Hour series? What do you think of it so far?

REVIEW: BETTER WATCH OUT by Natalie Walters!

Friday, October 20, 2023

 Hey everyone! Today I've got a review for Better Watch Out by Natalie Walters! She's one of my insta-buy authors, so I'm super excited to share this with you. Check out some info on the book below.


BLURB

An accidental meet-cute, a case of mistaken identity, and a bucket-list of Christmas activities befitting a Hallmark movie make this holiday romantic adventure the perfect Christmas read.

Leave the candy canes, take the pepper spray!

Nothing screams Christmas like a week spent ice skating, visiting Santa, and sharing a kiss or two under the mistletoe. Frannie Frost has crafted the perfect bucket list of romantic activities to surprise her boyfriend in the most magical place at Christmas time—New York City. When he unexpectedly becomes her ex, her plans are derailed leaving her with a choice. Wallow in self-pity at Christmas time or take matters into her own hands.

Former NHL defenseman turned personal protection agent, Andrew Bishop, loves his job—when things go as planned—but Frannie Frost is definitely not part of the plan. Still, when her brother, the man who saved Andrew’s life last year, asks him to deliver his sister safely to the airport, he can’t say no.

The only problem? Frannie isn’t leaving. She’s determined to make the most of her trip by checking off a bucket list of cliché Christmas activities that would make even Santa’s elves jealous. Andrew’s content to let her go until he learns that Frannie’s been mistaken for his client and thrust into the midst of danger.

Better Watch Out is a sweet romantic holiday adventure that gives you all of laughs of a rom-com while adding a touch of suspense. Tropes you’re sure to love include the new girl in the city vibe, stranded at Christmas, under the mistletoe, forced proximity, and a touch of enemies to lovers. Enjoy this romantic adventure that’s sure to make your holidays merry and bright.


Buy now on Amazon




MY REVIEW


Okay, so I wasn't expecting the "meet-cute" to be quite THAT cute. Or funny. It was especially fun to see characters from the Harbored Secrets series again, and the storyline is super cute. This book has that classic Christmas Hallmark-y feel without being TOO Hallmark-y, if that makes sense. Walters does a stupendous job on detailing the Christmas wonderland Frannie explores through New York, and that thrill of Christmas wonder is just interwoven in each sentence. So sweet and fun! Just enough suspense without detracting from the sweeter rom-com side of the story, plus pacing that will keep you turning pages. I ended up staying up way too late to finish reading this one, and I think you will too! It's on my reread list for sure.

COVER REVEAL: LEON GAINS AND THE EXPEDITION TO THE VOID by Angela R. Watts!

 Hey everyone! I am ridiculously excited to share this gorgeous cover for Leon Gains and the Expedition to the Void by Angela R. Watts, the first installment in a new middle grade series heading your way soon. I can't begin to tell you how stellar, heartfelt, and heartrending this series is. I don't care if you're a middle-grade reader or not...you need to give this series a read. And grab the tissues. You'll be crying over things you didn't even think you would ever cry over. SO without further ado, a little bit about the series:

BLURB

When an Undergrounder turns 13, they must view the Above and choose to forget… or remember. Before Leon Gains can reach Decision Day, sickness reaches his peaceful village. To save his people, Leon must join Gage, a boy who claims to have survived the Above, and go to the Void: where legend says the healing light is locked away.


Thrust into a world of dark tunnels, hungry monsters, unlikely friends, and the possibility that his village has lied to him about the world as he knows it… Leon risks everything for a chance of saving his family.


But if the legends are wrong, or if Leon can’t survive the underground, his village will be lost. Can Leon unleash the light, or will he be lost to the darkness?


You can support this project on Kickstarter today -- right HERE!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ANGELA R. WATTS is the bestselling and award-nominated author of The Infidel Books and the Remnant Trilogy. She’s been writing stories since she was little, and has over 33 works in print. She also writes articles for a few magazines and publishers. Angela is a freelance editor, blogger, and artist. She lives in Tennessee with her family and many pets.


WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | AMAZON


Are you ready for the cover?


Isn't it stunning? If you want to keep up to date with the series, pledge on Kickstarter HERE and give Angela R. Watts a follow!