So, Katja and I have done a thing XD In fact, you need to visit her blog to get the opening introduction! Head over there and then come back for my half of the announcement! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * You're back? Great! Let's hop into it! Katja: And that’s where the blogcast slogan is from. We’re “aspiring authors” in that we both constantly aspire to become better writers, wherever we are—and we are doing this for all you writers out there who are also “aspiring” to be better—wherever that takes you! Now that we explained all that, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of what is upcoming and what you can expect. Well, first for the technicalities. We’ll be releasing one chapter every second Monday of the month, with the first chapter launching January 8th, 2024. Half of the chapter will be posted on each blog, forming a complete episode. And we’ll both be leaving y’all with some encouragement, advice, and laughs in our footnotes as we sign off every time, so make sure you click the redirecting link at the end of every chapter and read both posts! Ryana: We will also be alternating the types of posts every other month. One month will be a deeper topic with tougher themes to tackle (like the definition of Christian fiction, the difference between YA and NA, etc.), and the following month will be more instructional, with writing, editing or marketing tips (that’s just a sample of our categories, btw!) that will help you on a more hands-on level! Every quarter, Katja and I will swap the positions of Host and Co-Host for a total of six months a piece! I’m excited to see exactly where this leads! Oh, and did I mention that you will have the chance to ask questions for future chapters so we can better serve your needs? Katja: ALSO—drumroll please—we plan to have guest appearances every so often! We’ve got some great writers to introduce to y’all so they can share their tips & tricks or awesome mindsets on various topics. And as Ry mentioned, we have a lot of awesome topics to cover! For instance, here’s a few categories and sub-categories we have in mind…
You can also expect us to cover topics like historical errors to avoid, breaking down tropes, garnering helpful tips from different classics, and encouragement for various writing woes! Ryana: This blogcast is for the young writer who wants to know where to start and what in the world writers are talking about when they divide off into their “Camps” (ahem, the oxford comma for one XD). It’s for the writer who has a book or two published and wants a spot to polish up their craft. It’s for the experienced author to drop in and share some words of wisdom, have a series to share with the young writers in their life, and learn something new themselves! Do you fit any of these? Do you write? Do you just find the writers’ world intriguing? Then the Indie Writers’ Blogcast is the place for you! Our January chapter will include allllllll those pesky definitions that can prove confusing for someone new to the writers’ scene! What in the world is an OC??? (I still have to look it up almost every time. XD) This is a post good for the newbie and the experienced writer alike, so don’t miss our debut chapter! Katja: We truly hope this can be a blessing to you all. Au revoir, and we look forward to meeting you all again next month. Keep writing, writers! :) Writer Inspiration *I do not believe in "your truth" over objective truth. But I do like this quote, just twisted out of context a little XD Memes! Book Rec! Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: Every young person should read this book, for the nostalgia, the Christian advice (that was a surprise to me!), the writing (I can't, it's just so good!), and for the relatablity of something writing over 150 years ago!
Are you excited for the Blogcast? Let me know all of your thoughts and questions in the comments below! Have a blessed day! Ryana Lynn Jer. 29:11
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Hey y’all! Sorry my posting schedule has been all over the place. I’m trying to do better! I’m working on something super exciting for y’all between bouts of Autumn illness, church activities, Jacob’s foot appointments, subbing a little and trying to get back into writing! Oh, and I’m still fighting with the cover for TSAL paperbacks, so please pray for me and my cover designer XD Anywho XD Today, I’m straying from books and jumping over to the world of cinema! I love movies and I love movies that match the season even more. So today, I’m sharing a list of books that feel like they are perfect for Late Fall and Early Winter! *Note, not all of them explicitly take place in fall or winter, and some are unspecified in season, they just seem to fit for me!* Alone Yet Not Alone ![]() This is one of my favorite fall-esque movies and it’s based on a true story! Set during the early days of the French and Indian War, it’s a chilling testament to the hardships people endured simply for a chance to be free! Though not especially gory, I do recommend families view this together the first time through, since it is based around kidnapping. Instrument of War
This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyage Little Women (2019)
Redwall Return to the Hiding Place Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Rogue One
Moonknight
The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Trilogies Again, I know not everyone is comfortable with fantasy, and that’s okay! But if you are, I definitely recommend these series for families to enjoy. Personally, I would say 13+, but if you have a sensitive child, it may be best to wait. There is some language (no much and easy to mark and mute) and one scene in that needs covering (feel free to message me!).
What are your favorite Fall/Winter Transitional Films? Share them in the comments below! God Bless and have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Ryana Lynn Jer. 29:11 Welp, it’s November. I am the world’s worst for keeping this blog running, haha! This post really should have been posted at the beginning of the season. But no use crying over spilled milk! Today, I’m sharing some books that are on my radar this fall, some which I hope to read before the season is out, but only time will tell! I’ll be posting the back cover copy of these books and a Goodreads link. I haven’t read all of these, so please don’t take it as a recommendation XD Leviathan by Brian McBride The Jailbirds are reeling after a devastating standoff with Orion in Peru, but the mystery that began with Tommy at Hollow Hill isn’t over. More determined than ever to finish what Tommy’s father started, Mars recruits a new source to help him uncover Orion’s true motives while Maya pulls at an old thread – one that just might unravel the secrets and lies that have plagued their lives. Both haunted by the sins of their fathers, Jude wrestles with a decision about his future while Reid struggles to come to grips with his past. Meanwhile, in South America, Immy works to fulfill a promise made to her parents when the arrival of familiar faces thrusts her into danger and leads to a fifteen-year-old unsolved murder. A world of secrets will be exposed. Family ties will unravel. Deadly betrayals will come to light. With Orion hot on their tail, the Jailbirds follow a new trail of clues across the country to the small, New England town of Mariner’s Cove, Maine. Daring escapes, hidden messages, and stolen fossils all converge as the Jailbirds face their most desperate challenge yet: the fight for family. Goodreads Link Little Women by Louisa May Alcott A classic tale to share with the next generation, Little Women is a coming of age story of virtue and true love in nineteenth century America. A true classic, Little Women follows the lives of Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy March, four spirited sisters living in Civil War era America . Join the Marches as they navigate New England life with a father at war , financial hardships , and the lure and intrigue of the handsome young man who lives next door. Originally published in 1868, Little Women was an immediate best seller that inspired three sequels : Good Wives , Little Men , and Jo’s Boys . Little Women is based directly on author Louisa May Alcott’s own early life. Alcott’s father, a reformist and staunch abolitionist, was able to often meet with luminary Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and other figures that would influence her to become one of the great American authors of the post–Civil War era . Complete and unabridged , this beautifully designed, jacketed hardcover edition features an introduction by Victorian literature scholar Laura Ciolkowski and a timeline of the life and times of Louisa May Alcott . Essential volumes for the shelves of every classic literature lover, the Chartwell Classics series includes beautifully presented works and collections from some of the most important authors in literary history. Chartwell Classics are the editions of choice for the most discerning literature buffs. Goodreads Link Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly Smart, bookish Belle, a captive in the Beast’s castle, has become accustomed to her new home and has befriended its inhabitants. When she comes upon Nevermore, an enchanted book unlike anything else she has seen in the castle, Belle finds herself pulled into its pages and transported to a world of glamour and intrigue. The adventures Belle has always imagined, the dreams she was forced to give up when she became a prisoner, seem within reach again. The charming and mysterious characters Belle meets within the pages of Nevermore offer her glamorous conversation, a life of dazzling Parisian luxury, and even a reunion she never thought possible. Here Belle can have everything she has ever wished for. But what about her friends in the Beast’s castle? Can Belle trust her new companions inside the pages of Nevermore? Is Nevermore’s world even real? Belle must uncover the truth about the book, before she loses herself in it forever. Goodreads Link Write What You Know by Jess Mastorakos He wants me to write what I know, but I don't know anything about love... Yet. Welcome to my life, where pygmy goats have a seat at the dinner table, my writing career is on the rocks, and I've just been arrested for stalking a celebrity... who also happens to be my long-lost brother. Enter Travis Wilson, a wounded veteran as irresistibly handsome as he is complicated. We strike up a I'll help him pick up the pieces of his shattered dreams, and he'll help me learn to write chemistry that sizzles. Between motorcycle rides, drama at the ballet recital, and brainstorming new career options by the lake, we're writing our own rom-com—and it's getting messier by the chapter. But here's the the more we try to focus on our bargain, the more we realize the best chemistry can't be written; it has to be lived. So what's a girl to do when he's teaching me everything I need to know about chemistry and love, but I still can't figure out if love is in the cards for us? Write What You Know is the fourth book in the Love in Charlotte Oaks series, where you'll find families as sweet as the tea, hot veterans who've returned home to find true love, and a beloved pet goat who has the habit of coming in clutch to save the day. Goodreads Link Break the Beast by Allison Tebo Who is to say who is the real beast? Grendel haunts the land of Frisia in a restless need for vengeance on the human world that has rejected her. With a fiendish master urging her on, she attacks without fear of repercussion. But the arrival of a foreign prince causes Grendel to doubt her invulnerability. Beowulf is renowned for killing monsters, and he can have only one purpose in visiting Frisia: to break her hellish reign. When the inevitable confrontation occurs, the battle between man and beast will change both their lives forever as they find themselves thrust into a quest for truth neither could have anticipated. Allison Tebo re-imagines the ancient legend of Beowulf in an epic story of redemption and grace in a high-stakes fantasy adventure. Undercover Princess by Olivia Jarmusch The Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella Solve the clues. Face your fears. Survive the Trials. All Alice Liddell wants is to escape her Normal life in Oxford and find the parents who abandoned her ten years ago. But she gets more than she bargained for when her older sister Charlotte is arrested for having the infamous Wonder Gene—the key to unlocking the curious Wonderland Reality. Soon, Alice receives a rather cryptic invitation to play for Team Heart in this year’s annual—and often deadly—Wonderland Trials. Now she has less than twenty-four hours to find her way into Wonderland where nothing is impossible . . . or what it seems. The stakes are raised when she discovers players go missing during the Trials each year. Will she and her team solve the clues and find the missing players? Or will betrayal and distrust win, leaving Alice alone in a world of her own? Follow the White Rabbit into this topsy-turvy fantasy where players become prey, a sip of the wrong tea might as well be poison, and a queen’s ways do not always lead one where they ought to go. Goodreads Link Wishtress by Nadine Brandes She didn't ask to be the Wishtress. Myrthe was born with the ability to turn her tears into wishes. But when a granted wish goes wrong, she is cursed: the next tear she sheds will kill her. She must travel to the Well to break the curse before it claims her life—and before the king's militairen find her. To survive the journey, Myrthe must harden her heart to keep herself from crying even a single tear. He can stop time with a snap of his fingers. Bastiaan's powerful—and rare—Talent came in handy when he kidnapped the old king. Now the new king has a job for him: find the Wishtress and deliver her to the schloss. But Bastiaan needs a wish of his own. He gains Myrthe's trust by promising to take her to the Well, but once he gets what he needs, he'll turn her in. As long as his growing feelings for the girl with a stone heart don't compromise him. Their quest can end only one way: with her death. Everyone seems to need a wish—the king, Myrthe's cousin, the boy she thinks she loves. And they're ready to bully, beg, and betray her for it. No one knows that to grant even one wish, Myrthe would pay with her life. And if she tells them about the curse . . . they'll just kill her anyway. Goodreads Link Like a Ship on the Sea by Kellyn Roth If God asks you to confront a storm, how dare you stay in the harbor? Lady Mary Cassidy O’Connell has a dream that can be summed up in three connecting a loving husband, adorable children, and a home of her own. Her mother’s lack of care makes life difficult for Cassie, and an escape is necessary. The plan? Marry Aubrey Montgomery, the man her parents have chosen for her, and find the peace she craves. Unfortunately, Cassie is uneasy about marrying Aubrey. Her apprehension grows as she witnesses her dearest friend’s loving marriage take place. At this wedding, she catches the eye of Patrick Hilton, son of a wealthy American. Like Cassie, he’s also set to marry a woman chosen by his parents—only, Patrick claims, he is content with this choice. Torn between her desire for happiness and the knowledge that God is leading her in a different direction, Cassie confronts the impossible decision. Is a loveless marriage of obligation better than being alone, or will she set sail on a voyage without a safe harbor? Like a Ship on the Sea is the first novel in The Hilton Legacy, a stand-alone trilogy featuring characters from the author’s first series, The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy. Goodreads Link Anything by The King's Daughter Writing Camp He was willing to do anything. Talk about anything, they said. She hadn’t ever done anything. You can do anything. In this heartwarming collection, thirteen Christian authors weave tales both historical and contemporary in a variety of imaginative settings. Anything features characters stretched to their limits: a pencil and a crayon who are best friends, a Tea-Dragon with a mischievous and mysterious habit, a terminally ill child with a lovely wish. In these pages, you’ll discover an eccentric gentleman who never stops reading, a foster boy who makes up in appetite what he lacks in conversational skills, and a single mother with a fault-finding mother-in-law and five rambunctious children who haven’t learned respect for a living room. Watch as a couple sacrificially prays for a lost and dying sister-in-law, a young lady tearfully talks her best friend through a coma, a courageous brother offers to lay down himself for others, a camera-shy teenager faces her greatest fear, and a music camp applicant struggles mightily with writing an interesting bio. Warmth, hope, and encouragement pervade the pages, echoing the theme of “anything” from a refreshing variety of angles both insightful and entertaining, spiritually profound and eternally valuable. These short pieces will delight and encourage the whole family. Goodreads Link {What books are on your radar this month?}
{Are you a TBR reader or a mood reader?} Have a blessed Day! Ryana Lynn Jer. 29:11 Hey y’all and happy November! Hard to believe it’s almost Christmas time, right?? Where has time gone?? The third quarter was crazy for us, y’all. I’m gonna go ahead and let you know, I read nothing in September. I mean, I actually read a lot but all of them were children’s books soooo… without further ado, let’s pop to it! *I will not be including reviews for my manga reads, because I don’t do detailed reviews for these. ![]() July My first read of the month was Naruto 51: Sasuke vs. Danzo. And yep, I was happy with the outcome, cause Danzo got exactly what he deserved, just several decades too late. Age Recommendation: 16+ Content: Language possibly? I don’t remember… Traumatic Content: Comic book depictions of blood and fighting. On the Horizon was the second book of July. It was supposed to be poetry but there was nothing poetic about it, just the interior design, which honestly was annoying, but the contents was pretty good. I enjoyed part one the most, the other two parts had some odd anti-WWII sentiment. Or at least that’s how it came across. Idk why we’re supposed to feel bad for the enemy these days. I understand feeling bad for civilians caught in the middle. That makes sense. But this sympathy for the bad guys is getting old. Age Recommendation: 12+ Content: N/A Goodreads Review Naruto 52: Cell Seven Reunion wasn’t my favorite Naruto book. It was well written, but the story bit just wasn’t my favorite, plus is had some censored adult content I didn’t approve of briefly pop up. Age Recommendation: 16+ Content: Censored immodest frames. ~~~ Number of Books Read: 3 Rereads: 0 Genres: Manga || Historical Fiction || Poetry Stars Given : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- 1 ⭐⭐⭐⭐- 1 ⭐⭐⭐- 1 ⭐⭐- 0⭐- 0 DNF: 0 August My first read of the month was a reread of At Her Fingertips by Kellyn Roth and I loved it even more the second go round! More of the cultural stuff made sense, even if I don’t agree with all of it, but it was so so good! And Peter *smile emoji with teary eyes* I get so mad at him in the next book (don’t worry, he’s learning and making his way back into my good graces) and this reread reminded me why I desperately want him to grow as an adult XD Age Recommendation: 12+ Content: light romance, family secrets about illegitimate children. Goodreads Review This next book was my favorite of the month XD The Librarian’s Ruse by Thirzah was unlike any fantasy novels I’ve read before (It’s a new-ish genre for me) and I adore it! The setting was so cool and I loved the fast pace! I wanted to strangle the brother a few times, but I have a hunch he’s gonna get better as the series goes on. Age Recommendation: 12+ Content: Deception, dancing, murder. Goodreads Review I read three more Naruto volumes, Naruto 53: The Birth of Naruto, Naruto 54: Peace Viaduct and Naruto 55: The Great War Begins. These three follow some of my favorite scenes in this saga! Background on Minato and Kushina and my mama heart was in pieces… Age Recommendation: 16+ Content: Same as above. The Home Edit was more of a skim style read. Very interesting, but worth borrowing instead of buying. Age Recommendation: N/A Content: N/A Simon Says, I Spy…a Shark, Don’t Pop the Bubble Ball, Summer School of Fish, Into the Kelp Forest, Shell We Dance and Dragon Dreams were a rollercoaster ride! Loved some and hated others, but overall, The Not-so-Tiny-Tales of Simon the Seahorse is an adorable series! Age Recommendation: 6-8 Content: superstition and tendency to blow things out of proportion. Goodreads Review (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) ~~~ Number of Books Read: 15 ReReads: 1 Genres: Children’s || Non-Fiction || Women’s Historical Fiction || Manga || Fantasy Stars Given : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- 7 ⭐⭐⭐⭐- 6 ⭐⭐⭐- 0 ⭐⭐- 2 ⭐- 0 DNF: 0 September I didn’t get any books finished in September, but I did have a DNF, What Were the Twin Towers. Do NOT recommend it. Lots of pro-Islam rhetoric. Age Recommendation: N/A Content: pro-Islam Goodreads Review ~~~ Number of Books Read: 0 ReReads: 0 Genres: Non-Fiction Stars Given : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- 0 ⭐⭐⭐⭐- 0 ⭐⭐⭐- 0 ⭐⭐- 1 ⭐- 0 DNF: 1 Question of the Day: What books have you been reading? Read any I mentioned? What’s something new you are trying in the realm of reading?
Have a wonderful day! Ryana Lynn Jeremiah 29:11 Happy (sad) last day of FFF *sniffles* I love this blog party so much and it's always sad to see it end... But there's always next year! Housekeeping! First of all, be sure and head over to Kate Willis’ blog to find all the blog stops (a free book will be offered each day)! Second, be sure to enter the giveaway! Third, read on! Disclaimer: I don’t endorse every book mentioned on the blogs in this tour. I haven’t read them all 😊 But if you have any questions about one, feel free to ask. If I’ve read it, I will let you know my thoughts and if not, I’ll get you what information I can! I have read so many good books this year and I hope to read many more, but today, I will show you the five top reads I've had this year! After Our Castle by Kellyn Roth This book y'all...every young wife should read it, tbh... It was a huge blessing to me in a lot of out of context ways, but it made sense to me, sooooo *halo* I do recommend this book for adult audiences only, it's clean, but heavy. Goodreads Link The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark by Various Authors I was not expecting this book to be so good! It was an excellent, fast read for such a thick book! It's a lovely addition for any lover of the Clone Wars series! (I may have bought my own copy after finishing it XD) Goodreads Link As the Crow Flies by Jess Mastorakos Jess Mastorakos is easily one of my favorite authors, honestly. I don't read much romance, but I read more of hers than anyone else! I love her military/veteran stories and this one? This one is by far my favorite *hugs book* I've been waiting for Riley's happily ever after for three books and this one did not disappoint! Goodreads Link The Librarian's Ruse by Thirzah THIS BOOK IS NOT GETTING THE HYPE IT DESERVES! I absolutely loved this book and y'all I need book two pronto! Mystery, intrigue, royals, librarians, MISTAKEN IDENTITY THAT'S ACTUALLY COOL! Just hurry up and buy it already... Goodreads Link Naruto 53: The Birth of Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto This book...it's...you would need to read them all to get the full emotional empact but... idk... maybe it's because I'm a mom now, it feels weird saying that, but this book has my heart and it won't give it back... Goodreads Link And with that, FFF comes to a close one more. What are your favorites of 2023 so far?
Have a blessed Day! Ryana Lynn Jer. 29:11 |
Ryana Lynn
Christian. American. Southern. Author. Subscribe for Blog Updates and a Free Short Story!
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