Rejoice! This Time of Year and Always

Hullo, lovely friends! I'm back for a bit with a late Christmas greeting, then I'll be away for a while again as the new design is put up. See you then! 😄



Frosted window panes, candles gleaming inside

Painted candy canes on the tree

It's that time of year when the world falls in love

Ev'ry song you hear seems to say "Merry Christmas,

"May your New Year dreams come true."

("The Christmas Waltz", by Sammy Cahn)

Christmas is past. The new year is approaching.  And we have a choice.

Christmas is a most special time of year. Love is shinning, hearts are giving. We go about doing good with smiles on our faces, feeling that glowy, happy feeling inside that comes from looking to bless others instead of ourselves, and knowing all of the pleasant surprises we have prepared for others.

And I realize-- sure, it isn't that way for everyone. There's hurt and pain this time of year, just like any other. Some people choose to not let Christmas in their heart. Many forget that true meaning and worry about themselves-- they won't get what they want, they won't get others what they want, lalala blahblahblah.... there's a million excuses to not feel good around Christmas time if we loose our focus.

If we forget that silent night. If we forget that "God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten  Son, that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish, but have everlasting life."



It's our choice to focus on why we celebrate. And it's our choice to keep these wonderful feelings in our hear all of the year long. So, rejoice! Christ was born--we have endless chances because of the gifts He has given us. Choose to remember what you have felt during this marvelous season of light, joy, and peace, as we move forward to another exciting year with endless possibilities.

I'll see you then.

⭐ "God bless us, every one!" ⭐

I'll be back...

Hullo, friends, and happy November! Oh, what?! November's already half over??? Oh well... 😄

I come here to inform you that I shall be a way and this blog will be down for a while. Perhaps I shall not be on an especially grand adventure, but I will tell you that when I come back there will be some changes made to this blog. I'm not sure when I'll return, but hopefully by the end of the month. (Don't worry, I won't put on a magic ring and disappear and you'll never hear of me again...😉)

Until then, may the sun shine on your path and beauty surround you always.

Yours truly,
S. F.

A Page From My Quote Book

One of my favourite things to collect is quotes. Words are so beautiful and powerful. Today I was flipping through my little quote book and found this quote. The thought popped into my mind to share it on my blog, so here it is. :)

Never lose an opportunity of seeing 

anything that is beautiful; 

for beauty is God's handwriting

—a wayside sacrament.

Welcome it in every fair face, 

in every fair sky, 

in every fair flower, 

and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.

—Emerson

Behind the Scenes of Burning Rose by Hope Ann

The week we have all been waiting for. (*cough* you've been waiting for this week as much as me, right? *cough*) Yes, as I was saying... Burning Rose is here! You heard me fanbling about this book a little while ago, and today's the official release date! I am SO excited to get my hands on my own copy of Burning Rose!

A war, founded in ancient legends, changes the lives of those it touches forever.

Elissa, a villager from the northern mountains, attempts to save her brother and ends up trapped

in a hidden valley with a strange host and a treacherous enemy.

Evrard, the Wingmaster of the Prince’s army, races against his own weakening powers to

discover the location of his twin and save her from deadly mistbenders.

Haydn, a pardoned rebel from Tauscher’s army, confronts shadows of myth and former

comrades in his struggle to keep his sister safe and find the stolen Stormestone.

BONUS

Before the war, before the legends, before the Separation, there was a man who started it all.

There was a curse, a promise, and a sacrifice. There was the Oathkeeper.

Fairy tales retold as you have never heard them before.

ROSE OF THE OATH: Beauty and the Beast

SONG OF THE SWORD: Rapunzel

SHADOWS OF THE HERSWEALD: Hansel and Gretel

and

ROSE OF THE NIGHT: a Rose of the Oath prequel

Order Burning Rose now!

Read on to see my review of this lovely book... but first, here's a bit o' behind the scenes of Burning Rose by Hope Ann. It's on the music inspiration for Rose of the Oath, and if you wish to see more about it, make sure to visit Hope's web sight here.

I enjoy music. I find it hard to write without listening to soft soundtracks, though loud siblings might have something to do with that. But not only do I enjoy listening to music as I write, I also love finding songs for my characters. Sometimes I can find them, sometimes I can’t. Sometimes they are perfect and sometimes they are only close. The song for Adrian, from Rose of the Oath, is pretty close. It is Love Feels Like by TobyMac: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73CNoOoMdxo 

Read Adrian’s full story in my new paperback collection, Burning Rose!

My review of Burning Rose: ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩
Did I just put six stars? YES! I could give it more, seeing as it's four five star-worthy stories. 😁
I really, really liked Burning Rose. The four stories in it are written in such a fresh, inspiring, and beautiful way. I found out about them from being personal friends with the author so I read the first for that reason, but after that, I was simply hooked! I've never read any other fairy tale retellings and I'm not really into fairy tales, but I do love fantasy and adventures, and these stories are amazing. Everyone takes you on an on-the-edge-of-your-seat thrilling journey. The ingredients for a book being likable for me is, either tale of simple ordinary life or an exciting adventure, lovable and relatable characters, and an encouraging message that's perfectly seeped into the story line without saying it right out. For me, Burning Rose was perfect.

Adventure- Every story keeps you flipping pages as you follow along with Elissa, Evrard, and Haydn to find answers to questions in their personal lives, and what the sacrifice of the Prince can do for them. Their different stories happen before the war, during the war, and after the war. There's action and swords and all that exciting stuff. 😉 There's a sort of mysterious feel to the beginning of all the stories as various backstory events are hinted at here and there. The endings were all very satisfying with all of the loose threads tied up. All of the plots develope brilliantly.
Characters- I must admit that the people in the stories are usually my favorite part of reading any book. And these characters--wow! I saw so much of myself in them. I found myself so involved with them. I felt their joy, pain, surprise, and triumphs. Everyone has wonderful character arcs that I loved reading.
Theme- Every story has a different fruit of  the spirit theme. I learned a lot from them, but we are never told flatly out the message. Instead, we learn by the experiences of the characters. Elissa learns what love really is. So do we. Evrard learns the true source of joy. So do we. Haydn learns to let peace into his life, and we see how we can, too.

I'm so happy to see these four wonderful stories finally put together in one book that I can hold. Hope has a magical touch with writing; so gripping and moving. I am very much looking forward to reading what she writes next.

Alright. I'm done for now. All of you people who read all of the way to the end, I highly recommend you considering buying this book. It will be well worth it. :) 

Excellent Writing Advice

I came across this awhile ago and think it's a wonderful power boost for when you don't feel like writing. What's your favourite writing advice?

Poetry Leaves #1 - My Place of Solitude

With autumn soon coming, I find myself in a nostalgic state that always comes when the air grows cold and leaves begin changing colours. This year, however, it's different. Instead of just thinking, it's made me write. I want to finish those stories I've started. I want to write more poetry. I want to take myself out of a mindset of dreaming of the things I could discover on pen and paper and acting on those dreams instead.

I thought I might share a few poems on here. I can't guaranty how soon they'll be put up on here, but for now, here's my first poem:

photo from the Internet

My Place of Solitude

I know a place of solitude

It's down the road a stretch.

I can go there when I need to

Have a place to sort my thoughts.

It's a spot down at the river

Where it makes a little bend.

I found my special "Thinking Rock" there

For quiet reigns as king.

As the peaceful river
Goes gliding along
And the glow of the sun is reflected
Like a thousand diamonds in the water

It soothes and rests my soul,
And I can ponder the countless ages past
Or consider all that can be
In the days yet to come.

Time itself is apt to stand still
In my place of solitude.

"Burning Rose" by Hope Ann - Cover Reveal

It's here! It's here! It's FINALLY here!

Item one: I prefer physical copies of books over e-books. Item two: I adore the Legends of Light novella series being written by Hope Ann. Item three: The first the books are coming out in paperback in October. Item four: I have some fangirling to do. Item five: Who wants to see a gorgeous book cover?

A war, founded in ancient legends, changes the lives of those it touches forever.

Elissa, a villager from the northern mountains, attempts to save her brother and ends up trapped in a hidden valley with a strange host and a treacherous enemy.

Evrard, the Wingmaster of the Prince’s army, races against his own weakening powers to discover the location of his twin and save her from deadly mistbenders.

Haydn, a pardoned rebel from Tauscher’s army, confronts shadows of myth and former comrades in his struggle to keep his sister safe and find the stolen Stormestone.

BONUS 

Before the war, before the legends, before the Separation, there was a man who started it all. There was a curse, a promise, and a sacrifice. There was the Oathkeeper.

Fairy tales retold as you have never heard them before.

ROSE OF THE OATH: Beauty and the Beast

SONG OF THE SWORD: Rapunzel

SHADOWS OF THE HERSWEALD: Hansel and Gretel 

and

ROSE OF THE NIGHT: a Rose of the Oath prequel

If you haven't heard my gush about the Legends of Light (see this post, this post, this post, and this post), you can check out each ebook individually here or the Burning Rose page here. The Kindle version is available for preorder, but the paperback won't be up to buy until the launch on October 3rd. In the meantime, you can add Burning Rose to your lists on Goodreads.

And now, can I get drum roll? 🥁 ..........................................................................

Designed by Kate Flournoy

Less than one month until you can finally hold Burning Rose in your own hands! I know what I'm looking forward to most in October. 😁

Skip on over to learn more about Hope Ann and her writings at: https://authorhopeann.com/

Ps. I'm having trouble with the design on this blog, so apologies if things look boring or out of place.