Well it’s that time of year for a new one to start

Dear Readers,

I apologize for falling off the face of the blogosphere. School started, life happened and here I am almost four months later… writing a long overdue blog post. 

I had a lot of plans for this year, and not many of them actually happened. And the word that will continue to be my excuse is… school. This wrap up post will not really be my usual one because it’s more exciting that way. (Actually because I’m writing this and it’s almost 2023 :o) 

Sadly, with school I didn’t get hardly any writing done. I wrote some, mostly poetry to help process some of the things that were going on in my life. Most all the prose I wrote was for school. 

I also didn’t do much reading, but I’m on Goodreads now if you care to keep up with my reading. 

The podcast got neglected after April because I started school. I’m hoping that as I fall into the swing of school and work I’ll figure out my time and maybe get an episode out, we’ll see. 

I learned a lot this year. I learned more about me and I learned about people. I learned the importance of being honest with people. And I learned the pain of loss. Above all though, through the crazy insane things that life will throw God is still sovereign and on the throne. 

This is where I would usually talk about my goals or resolutions for the new year, but I haven’t given them too much thought at this point…. I’m also working toward keeping my goals realistic so I don’t completely fail, but I also want to challenge myself. 

I think I will close this post with the words of Longfellow. 

“Then peeled the bells more loud and deep

God is not dead, nor doth he sleep.

The wrong will fail, the right prevail

With peace on earth, good will to men.” 

~I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

Happy New Year! 

Blessings in Christ, 

Mattie May

Who Loves A Free Book!?

 Hello Readers!

I bet you're shocked to see a post from me this early in the month since I usually post at the last minute LOL. 

But today, and this month is different! 

About two years ago at this time, I was furiously editing my debut novel Everlasting Gold to prepare it for the public eye. One week from this Friday will be the two-year anniversary of Everlasting Gold being published! 

It's so crazy to think that it's been that long, that my book is two years old already! 

So celebrate this momentous occasion I am hosting a giveaway! One person will receive a free, signed copy of my book! 

*This giveaway is only open to US and Canada entrants* 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I hope y'all enjoy this as much as me ;D. Have a wonderful April and perhaps you'll see me post again this month to announce the winner! 

Blessings,

Mattie May, The Blossoming Writer 

All About You and Around the Blogosphere Tag!

 

Hello Readers!

I was tagged for this back in September by the lovely R. M. Archer, at Scribes and Archers, so please go check out her lovely blog and enjoy me trying to answer this tag. 

Rules:

Answer the following questions

Tag at least a couple other bloggers

Have them answer these questions

Questions:

What’s your favorite book/book series and why?

My favorite book right now is The White Rose Resists by Amanda Barret

My favorite series might either be The Baker Family Adventures by C. R. Hedgecock or The Whispers of White Duology by Miranda Marie. 

Who is your favorite author?

My favorite author is probably Douglas Bond. 

After him would be the three that I just mentioned, Amanda Barret, C.R. Hedgecock, and Miranda Marie. 

What is your favorite food?

I really enjoy a variety of food, but my favorite is probably Lasagna. 

What gives you inspiration for your books?

Other books, people, memories, random historical facts that I think "Hey, someone should write a story about ________" 

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Somewhere cold and in the mountains. I love where I am now, but I could go for somewhere with cooler summers. 

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

I'd have to say introvert. Though I do need to have people interaction and I do enjoy and can get energy from being around people... as long as they don't take too much mental/emotional energy. 

If you had a warning label, what would yours say?

Hmmm

Caution, Writer may spout random facts or speak of fictional characters as if they are real. Or know too much for normal people about  

or

Caution, I may be quiet at first, but beware if you get me on one or more of my favorite subjects. 

I really don't know 😂.

Tagees:

Edna Pellen at Bleeding Ink

Adria Avalon at The Works of Adria Avalon

Maple at Maple Quill Penning Magic

S.J. at When Ice Sings and Stars Fall

Alrighty, I hope y'all enjoyed that and you're impressed that I got this month's post out before the very last day of the month 😉. I'm impressed at myself. 

Also, this past week marked my two-year Blogversary! I forgot again. So consider me finally doing this tag as celebration! 🎉🥳💚✨ 

I'll write to y'all again next month, Lord willing. 

Have a lovely spring! 

Blessings,

Mattie May

New Years Wrap Up

 

Hello Readers!

I can't believe this year is over. This year has been difficult for me, one of learning and growing. And both of those things aren't always the most enjoyable. A lot of fun things happened this year, a lot of not-so-fun things happened as well. I didn't write much, compared to some, but I'm learning that comparing myself to others isn't a great habit. I had a lot of firsts this year; I entered my first poetry contest; I went to Kauai; I went on scary rollercoasters; I won the 100-for-100 challenge... 

Reading

As of writing this, I've read 42 1/2 books as I write this. A highlights from my reading were....

Rescue in the Rockies, by C.R. Hedgecock. This was the 8th book in her series, The Baker Family Adventures and as usual it was amazing and I'd highly recommend the whole series!

I reread most of the Chosen Daughter Series. If you ever can get your hands on any of those books, read them, and your life will be better for it. 

You're Not Enough (And that's Okay), by Allie Beth Stuckey. My sisters have been listening to Allie's podcast, called Relatable. It was an excellent book, and I really enjoyed her points. We can't ever be enough for ourselves and other people. But that's okay, because God is. 

The White Rose Resists, by Amanda Barret. The book should be a must read on your list. I don't care what you read, what genres you like or don't. You will love this book to bits and pieces. And if you do read it, please share your thoughts with me and let's fangirl together! 

A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens. I don't think I've ever read anything by Dickens before and this was a treat. I remember watching the movie adaptation of this and was intrigued, and I was not dissapointed by the book. 

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson. I didn't think I'd enjoy this book as much as I did. I honestly really enjoyed it. It had a lot of interesting points that I'd like to pull out in a blog post or review at some point. 

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. This is a classic, I've seen the movie with Gregory Peck and I was excited to see the characters come to life on the pages. I enjoyed the story very much. 

The Lamentation of a Sinner, by Queen Katherine Parr. This is a short book that'd I'd recommend. Her humility was inspiring, and it was neat to read something written so long ago. I think this book wins the oldest book I read this year it was originally published in 1547. 

A fun read was Bible in Pocket, Gun in Hand, by Ross Phares. It was rather entertaining. My dad originally bought the book for me while I researching Everlasting Gold. I'd recommend it if you love historical books with the kind of stories that make history come alive! 

Dear Author, by Laura A. Grace. If you're a writer, read this. Especially if you're discouraged and wondering why you even thought writing was a good idea. 

Echoes, by Miranda Marie. I love this book. I love the story. I love the characters. I love everything about this book. Please read it and fall in love with it with me. (Technically, I haven't finished it... but as of writing this I have about 10 chapters left and I've already read it once.I'll likely finish it later tonight...) 

So those were the highlights of my reading this year. 

Writing

I didn't do NaNo this year, but I did do the 100-for-100 challenge this summer. It was really fun, and it felt good to write again. 

I wrote about 500 words on my WWI project

I edited the Christmas Truce scene

I wrote and entered the Story Embers poetry contest. You can read that poem on my Writing Page. 

In total, I wrote 18,399 in the year 2021.

In the next year, I'm planning on editing and working through my WWI project. 

Podcast

I started my podcast in June and published 13 episodes, two episodes a month. So far, it's been a success for the amount of effort I've put into marketing... which isn't much. 

Life

We got snow! Quite a bit for the area that I live in. We got two decent snows. It was lovely. I love the snow so much. Here are a few *pictures...

Something I really love about the snow is the day after the storm. Usually the sky is bright blue and there are only a few scattered fluffy white clouds. It's like a lot like life; after the darkest storms, there is light. 

I pray this next year is your light at end of the storms of the past two years. 

Blessings in 2022,

Mattie May, The Blossoming Writer

*These pictures are mine and I kindly ask that you don't use them without asking like a decent human. ;)

November Wrap-Up

 

Dear Readers,

After trying more times than I'd like to admit to, my idea of writing a blog post earlier this month on the struggles of a writer being unable to participate in NaNoWriMo and simultaneously feeling guilty for not participating did not happen. And so here we are with a rather boring monthly wrap-up post. 

The month started slowly as I tried to once again form a sort of routine to fall into. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. It feels as though as I wandered through the month of November looking for something to do while being surrounded by things to do. 

Then it hit me. I was behind on the number of books that I wanted to read this year, so I have challenged myself to read at least 20 books during the month of December. Will I actually finish 20 books in one month that is filled with Christmas fill-in-the-blank-everything? Probably not, but who doesn't love a good challenge?

In other exciting news, I poked my old NaNo project... I wrote about 500 words that will probably get edited out later, but hey, I wrote, so that counts for something. 

The podcasts for this month centered on the Reformation because that was where my brain was last month and I think I'm running about a month behind schedule in my processing functions. This month I'm doing at least one person who had a connection to the first Thanksgiving... 

For the 400th anniversary of the first Thanksgiving, my family and I went down to our old romping grounds and spent the weekend with family. I also got to spend an afternoon with one of my roommates from camp, which was a blessing. 

I don't know what next month will look like posting-wise, but I'd like to do a Story Behind the Carol post, comment below if that is something you'd like me to do!

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving! Merry Christmas! 

Blessings,

Mattie May

August Wrap-Up

 

Hello Readers!

Today's post will be short because life is crazy. I haven't even been home very much this month. 

For the first two weeks, my family and I were on vacation in Kauai. It was beautiful. It was amazing to be surrounded by God's creation. We all got to see over a dozen sea turtles, tons of birds of all kinds, fish, and a seal. My sisters and I got to go zip lining, paddle boarding, and kayaking. We also learned how to snorkel, (though I still can't really do it 😆.) We then returned home and a couple of days later, we went to a friend's wedding. 

As far as writing goes, I haven't done much. The only writing-related thing I did was edit a poem and submit it to Story Embers for their 3rd Annual Poetry Contest. 

Both podcasts happened while I was in Kauai. The first was on Sophie Scholl and the other on Katharina von Bora. They were so fun to research and write. I really enjoyed the stories and I hope you do too. 

This month I read The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it, but I did and I plan on rereading it at some point soon. I also almost finished Fighting for Life by Lila Rose. So far I've really enjoyed it. 

That's all for today y'all have a wonderful week!

Blessings,

Mattie May 

Life Update and Other Randomness

 

Hello Readers!

    I can't believe it's already nearly April! These few months of 2021 have flown by. I'm sorry I haven't posted on here in nearly forever, but life went down and I went down with it... I'll try to explain. 

    Since the week of Valentine's day, I have been on an internet fast or reset, depending on who in my family you ask. At first, it was extremely challenging I really struggled with the decisions that my parents made, but as life has gone on and I've seen the benefits and understood where they were coming from, I appreciate the steps they took. Not only has my relationship with them been strengthened, but my relationship with God and with my sisters has flourished during this time. As with any other fast/reset, it's best not to go all the way back on the first day. Since that kinda defeats the purpose of the fast in the first place. So for all of you wondering where I disappeared to... that's where. 

    In my last post here I told y'all that I was dealing with writer's burnout. I'm happy to say that I've recovered... or at least recovered enough where I don't feel like I'm living in a black hole. 

    I've done a lot of reading these past few weeks:

1. Johanna and Henriette Kuyper: Daring to Change their world (Chosen Daughters Series), Abigail Van Der Velde

This one is a reread and I started before the reset. I finished within the first few weeks. It was honestly amazing. Johanna and Henriette have quickly climbed the ladder of my favorite women of history. 

2. Hammer of the Huguenots, Douglas Bond

For those of you who know me, you know that Douglas Bond is one of my favorite HisFic authors. This book was fascinating. I'm fairly familiar with the Reformation in France, and the St. Bartholomew's day Massacre, but this book focused on the events leading up to St. Bartholomew's day. I find books like this very inspiring to my faith. 

3. The Hobgoblins, Douglas Bond

This book tells the story of John Bunyan from the POV of his childhood friend Harry Wylie. Harry's POV is entertaining and the use of old English is charming. John Bunyan is such an interesting person I'd recommend this book wholeheartedly. 

4. The White Rose Resists, Amanda Barratt

A year or two ago my family and I watched the film Sophie Scholl: the Final days. This book shares the story of Hans and Sophie Scholl in detail. For those who don't know, White Rose was a group of college students who were from WWII Germany and dared to write leaflets against Hitler, a crime punishable by death.

 I think my favorite part of the book was that it was written in 1st person. I honestly love 1st person. It's personal and beautiful. My favorite character was Kirk Hoffman, one of the fictional characters. I liked him because of his view of soldiers, as in one part he muses on the life that each man has. I've done that several times and it was really neat to see someone else think the same way, even if they were fictional. Sophie was also a favorite. I liked how she reached out to Analise, who is another fictional character. If you get anything from this short review, it should be: READ THIS BOOK NOW! 

5. Dr. Oma: The Healing Wisdom of Countess Julianna Von Stolberg (the Chosen Daughter Series), Ethel Herr

This was a reread and I don't regret it. Julianna was the mother of Prince William the Silent of Orange (he married Charlotte de Bourbon, who is a favorite lady of the Reformation of mine). Julianna went through a lot of hardship and struggles, losing three sons to the religious wars in the Netherlands at that time. Herr did an amazing job of telling the story through the eyes of Julianna's granddaughter, Maria Princess of Orange. 

That's all the fiction I read... I'm sure you can't tell what kind of books I like...

I've also done some writing and if you check the Writing page of this blog you can read two of my newest poems. 

To close out this blog post, I'd like to recommend Isa. 58, I've so blessed by all fourteen beautiful verses. 

On that note, I'll close this blog post with the hope I can post again soon. 

Blessings,

Mattie May

Have you ever done a fast/reset before? What have you been reading?

Let me know in the comments! 

Book Review: Blood and Silver by Vali Benson

 

Hello Readers! 

I had the privilege to read and review Benson's debut novel Blood and Silver, so with no further ado, enjoy the review. 

Synopsis:

What is a twelve-year-old girl to do when she finds herself in the silver boomtown of Tombstone, Arizona, in 1880, and her only home is a brothel and her only parent is a drug-addicted mother? If she is Carissa Beaumont, she outsmarts the evil madam and figures a way out.

After tricking the madam, Miss Lucille, into summoning a doctor for her mother, Lisette, she discovers that Miss Lucille has been drugging her. She and the kind doctor make a plan to try to save Lisette by dosing her down on the drug.

Doctor Henderson tells Carissa that the only source for the drug is a Chinese immigrant named China Mary, who lives in Hoptown, at the other end of Tombstone. Carissa has no choice but to go to the powerful woman for help. Many say that China Mary is the one who really controls Tombstone.

China Mary admires Carissa's brave spirit and uses her influence to get her a job at the new Grand Hotel, which will free Carissa from her many duties at Miss Lucille's. She will work along with Mary's twelve-year-old niece, Mai-Lin. The two girls become fast friends.

Then, disaster strikes, and the two girls must work together to stay alive.

With a host of colorful characters and meticulous attention to period detail, Blood and Silver is a story of the best and worst of human nature, the passion for survival, and the beauty of true friendship.

***

Blood and Silver is a historical fiction novel that shows what life was like in the silver mining town of Tombstone AZ. It follows the story of a young girl who wants more than anything else for her and her mother to escape their employer. 

I enjoyed the fact that Benson paid attention to historical accuracy and included actual people living in Tombstone. I also appreciated that each of the characters had a distinct voice. Carissa and Mai-Lin's friendship was very sweet. 

The only thing I disliked about the story was the occasional misuse of the Lord's name. 

If you're looking for historical fiction with colorful characters and the feeling of the Old West, you'll enjoy this story! 

***

That's all for today, y'all! I'll hopefully have another post before the month ends... but we'll see. 

Blessings,

Mattie May

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A Very Bookish Thanksgiving Blog Tour!

Hello Readers!

You'll notice my blog header changed, but don't worry, it'll be back next week; but why did it temporarily change? I'm glad you asked! 

We're taking a quick break from our series on women of the Reformation to participate in a blog tour! I'm very excited about this book and tour. 

I'm really excited about this because I got to participate in the Facebook launch party and it was so much fun, I loved getting to know the different authors and learn more about the stories, I'm very excited about this blog post! 

Let's dive in, shall we?

Welcome to A Very Bookish Thanksgiving Blog Tour 📚📚🍁🍂🦃

Five stories.
Five book-lovers.
Five Thanksgiving novellas inspired by five classics.
This is a limited-edition novella collection with contributions by five different authors.

The Promise of Acorns ~ Kelsey Bryant

Erin Moore is a nanny whose strained relationship with Thanksgiving becomes even more complicated when her new employer asks her to teach his grandchildren about the holiday. The results surprise them both.

Inspired by Jane Eyre

As Long as I Belong ~ Sarah Holman

Young Analise Marshall has always felt like she straddles two worlds, like Jane Austen’s Fanny Price. Yet, near Thanksgiving, she faces the fact she might soon not belong anywhere at all.

Inspired by Mansfield Park

The Windles and the Lost Boy ~ Rebekah Jones

All Lost Boys could find refuge with Patrick Quill. Jeremy might do the same—if he could find him and if Patrick is real.

Inspired by Peter Pan

Grand Intentions ~ J. Grace Pennington

Pippa has always dreamed of being a great novelist, but between her job and helping her mom raise her three younger brothers, she never seems to be able to write. So when her grandmother offers her a few months away with all the time she could wish for, she’s sure to write the story she’s always dreamed of—or does her problem run deeper than she thinks?

Inspired by Great Expectations

A Fine Day Tomorrow ~ Amanda Tero

Essie March never planned to do much with her life, being the sickly one of the family. And just as she starts to pursue her dream of nursing, it seems that everything stands in her way to prevent it.

Inspired by Little Women

***

Releases on October 26!

Available for pre-order now at this link

(The price will go up from $2.99 to $4.99 on October 26, so get it now!)

Add to Goodreads

***

About the Authors:

Kelsey Bryant is an author, editor, and martial arts instructor from Central Texas. She loves God, her family, classic literature, and anything that transports her to the past.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Sarah Holman lives in Central Texas with her amazing family. When not working on her next novel, she can usually be found hanging out with her siblings, reading, or taking long walks. If there is anything adventuresome about her life, it’s because she serves a God with a destiny bigger than anything she could have imagined.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Rebekah Jones is first and foremost a follower of the Living God. She started writing as a little girl, seeking to glorify her King with her books and stories. Rebekah is an old soul in a young body (she’s not 12—honest!). While her exact age is classified, her interests are not. Among them are reading a variety of books, singing, playing and composing music, studying all manner of subjects, nannying an adventurous group of youngsters, and, of course, writing her books, poems, articles, and short stories. She writes a wide range of books from gentle children’s adventures to family sagas to murder mysteries.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

J. Grace Pennington has been telling stories since she could talk and writing them down since age five. Now she lives in the great state of Texas, where she writes as much as adult life permits. When she’s not writing she enjoys reading good books, having adventures with her husband, and looking up at the stars.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Amanda Tero grew up attending a one room school with her eleven siblings—and loved it! She also fell in love with reading to the point her mom withheld her books to get her to do her chores. That love of reading turned into a love of writing YA fiction. Amanda is a music teacher by day and a literary guide by night, creating stories that whisk readers off to new eras and introduce them to heroic but flawed characters that live out their faith in astonishing ways.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

***

Giveaway!

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a fun fall package!

Giveaway package includes Hello Autumn sign, Thankful jar, Fall cozy, and Autumn-themed charm necklace

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Enter Here! 🍁🍂🍁

*** 

That's a wrap y'all! Which story sounds the most exciting to you? What is your favorite part about fall? Let me know in the comments! 

Blessings,

Mattie May

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Women of the Reformation: Lady Jane Grey ~ Guest post by Al

 

Hello Readers!

I'm so excited to bring you a guest post on one of my other favorite women of the reformation, Lady Jane Grey! 

Al is a teen HisFic writer from NZ. She is currently working on a story that takes place during the 5th Century in England. Al enjoys writing, reading, and going on adventures. 

***

~Lady Jane Grey~

    Hello there! I’m Al.

    For as long as I can remember, Lady Jane Grey has been one of my favourite historical figures. Her story and the way she kept up incredible faith throughout many trials is so inspirational to me. She was a teenager when she died, but managed to leave a forgotten legacy everyone should know about.

    

    Jane was born around 1537. Through her mother’s lineage, she had a very distant claim to the throne, but not enough to give her the title of princess. She was educated by the best tutors, learning Latin, Greek, French, Hebrew, and Italian. She loved to read, preferring it over popular sports of the time, such as hunting.

    

    At nine years old, her parents sent her away to live with Catherine Parr, the late King Henry VIII’s widow. It is said Jane was glad to go, as she was regularly beaten and chastised by her parents, though there is little proof of this. She enjoyed her new life with Catherine and her husband, Thomas Seymour, but her joy was short-lived. Catherine died in childbirth a few years later, and Thomas was sent to the executioner's block for treason.

    Thereafter, Jane spent most of her time at court. Her scheming father and the Duke of Northumberland began to devise a plot that would ultimately be her downfall. Jane was forced to marry Northumberland’s son Guildford, who she barely knew. It was around this time King Edward VI was taken very ill and wrote out his Device For Succession. With Northumberland’s persuasion, Edward appointed Jane and any of her male heirs as his successors, as he didn't want his catholic sister Mary to undo his Protestant reforms. It’s speculated Northumberland himself forged the postscript which would make his daughter-in-law queen, but no proof has been found.

    Within weeks, Edward passed away. Jane was proclaimed queen by the nobles, despite her resistance to the idea. However, Edward’s sister Mary had the support of the populace and made it clear she wouldn’t stand for Jane’s theft of her title. With an army, she marched through the country, gaining support as she went. On July 19, most of the nobles relented and proclaimed Mary queen, even Jane’s father. After a nine-day reign, Jane was imprisoned in the Tower of London, alongside her husband.

    Jane pleaded guilty to treason for usurping the throne and was sentenced to death. She was given many chances to relinquish her Protestant religion in favour of Catholicism, in the hopes her soul would be saved before she died, but she held fast to her faith. 

    On February 15, sixteen-year-old Jane was forced to watch her husband’s execution, before meeting her own untimely fate on the chopping block.

    Many people have said Jane fell victim to the schemes of the traitorous men in her life, but I believe God used her to do great things. She may not have been queen for very long, but her incredible faith is still an inspiration to us today. Her life was not easy, yet she worked through it, knowing God had a purpose for her and believing she could fulfill it.

    In a letter to her sister before she died, Jane wrote these inspirational words: 

‘It [The Bible] is the testament and last will which He bequeathed unto us wretches and wretched sinners which shall lead you to the path of eternal joy and if you, with a good mind read it and with an earnest desire follow it, no doubt it shall bring you to an immortal and everlasting life.’ 

It is clear Jane went to her end knowing she had gained the gift of eternal life.

    We can all learn something valuable from Jane’s story. I encourage you to read more about this incredible young woman and read the entire letter she wrote to her sister before her death. Letter by Lady Jane Grey

***

That's all for today, y'all! 

Blessings,

Mattie May and Al

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Interview with Author Kellyn Roth!

 

Hello Readers! 

I'm so excited about this, I had so much fun getting to interview Kellyn and I hope y'all enjoy the interview as much I did! 

First, a little bit about Kellyn, before we get started!

Kellyn Roth is a Christian historical women’s fiction & romance author from North-Eastern Oregon who has independently published multiple novels, the most notable being The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy series. You should definitely call her Kell.

Kell lives on family-owned property outside an unmemorable but historical town with her parents, two little brothers, arbitrary cat, precious border collies, a dozen cows, and lots of chickens. She also possesses a classic, vintage aesthetic which does not at all speak to her country girl side, but such is life.

When not writing, Kell likes to blog, teach writing to her various students, have day jobs which allow her to keep her car properly insured, and spend lavish amounts of money on Dairy Queen french fries. She also likes to talk about Keira Knightley and her own books. Just … way too much. You’ve been warned.

***

~And now, for the interview!~

Mattie: What first inspired you to write?  

Kell: Honestly, there wasn't any one thing. I've been writing stories since I was seven, and before that, my family would write down stories, poems, and songs for me! So I frankly have no clue. I just always have!

Mattie: That's really neat. ^-^ 

Who has encouraged you the most in your writing journey? 

Kell: It's varied a lot from year to year! But it's always been my writing friends, whoever they are in any given season. And, of course, my "real life" friends, who wrote with me and eventually just encouraged me to keep writing. They're really awesome. To name drop - Sonja, Eva, Aimee, and my bestie Bailey.

Mattie: That's neat. My writing friends have been a great encouragement to me as well. 

Why do you write Historical Fiction?

Kell: Because modern-day life is super boring, but I'm not creative enough for fantasy! 😉 But also, I believe history needs to be shared so we don't repeat mistakes - and people need to be better understood regardless of the era.

Mattie: That's very relatable for me. 🙂 

What is your favorite period of history to write about?

Kell: I honestly struggle to pick one, but I do love the 1940s. There's something so snappy about it, from the dialogue to the intense, horrible situations. It has a marvelous chaotic energy.

Mattie: As I've been looking at your novels and short-stories, it seemed that a few were set in that time frame 😉 

Who are some of your favorite Historical fiction authors?

Kell: Well, I have quite a few, but some that come to mind are Kristi Ann Hunter, Karen Witemeyer, Tamera Alexander, Sarah Sundin, Roseanna M. White, Regina Jennings, Julie Klassen, Jesseca Wheaton, and Carrie Turansky

Mattie: I've heard of some of them, I'll have to look into the rest 🙂 

How much research do you normally do before beginning the writing process?

Kell: It depends a lot on the book! Like, for some, especially if it's a continuation of a series, not much at all. For others, I'll have several books to read. But usually I do quite a bit of research mid-draft or while editing, usually for small details.

Mattie: Will you be participating in NaNoWriMo this year?

Kell: Almost certainly! I just haven't chosen a project. 😜 I really have to get on that, says I as I continue to do other things. I'll probably choose just a few days before!

Mattie: What is your current WIP/s about? 

Kell: Well, a couple things I'm working on include:

1. Book 3 in my series, The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy, which finally have me writing about Alice as an adult!
2. A novella from that same series set between book 2 and book 3.

  3. A new novel that is a bit of a secret, but it's a Regency romance with a lot of mistaken identities, failed schemes, and ridiculous characters.

Mattie: All of those sound really neat!

What times of the day are your most productive?

Kell: Usually sometime after 10 PM. Unfortunately, I have to be getting to sleep an hour after that! So I make myself work whenever.

Mattie: How much do you plan before writing a novel? 

Kell: I'm the kind of writer who does a pretty detailed outline - I like to know exactly what the characters are going to do at all times. However, I'm not the type to fill out detailed character sheets or such - the characters can develop themselves as far as I'm concerned. It's the plot that needs a little work!

Mattie: How do you get past writer's block? Or are you one of those special people who doesn't get it?

Kell: I do get it, but I just write anyways! I always say writing is no super special creative itch that you somehow can only scratch at certain times. It's a trained skill - and it is possible to train yourself to write on command. That said, there are times when writers need a break - it's important to avoid mistaking burnout for writer's block.

Mattie: That's neat, and a good thing to keep in mind.

Could you tell us a bit about your Growing Writers Program?

Kell: Well, essentially, I'm joining with Faith Blum and Zach Sollie to offer a 12-week program for young writers looking for instruction, encouragement, and critique in the art of fiction writing. Basically, it's our way to offer an advanced course that will help beginners level up as writers. I also do writing coaching on various subjects privately.

Mattie: What would be your piece of advice to a young or beginning writer?

Kell: I'd say "stick with it and don't be prideful because we can all improve and we all need critique to do so."

Mattie: Which is your favorite novel/short story you've written? 

Kell: I think right now that'd be The Dressmaker's Secret. I'm immensely proud of my recent rewrite!

Mattie: Do you have a favorite character from your works or another's? 

Kell: I have quite a few! I adore Peter Strauss, Jordy McAllen, and from my latest project, the unannounced one, a guy named Philip Harriot.

Mattie: Is there anything in particular that makes those characters your favorites?

Kell: Well, Peter is just the gentlest, sweetest, best person on earth. I would die for him - and, probably, he'd die for the world if asked! He's also got the best thoughts on everything.

Jordy is ... well, he has the same personality and habits of my best friend, Bailey. 

Then Philip is just fun. I enjoy writing him with his carefree snark and his lack of concern for what others think of him.

Mattie: Anything else you'd like to share with us? 

Kell: Hmm, no, I think I'm good. Thanks so much for interviewing me!

Mattie: You're so welcome, I had fun!

***

That's a wrap folks, hope y'all enjoyed the interview! 

If you want to learn more about Kell check out her blog here: Lilacs and Reveries. If you'd like to learn more about her lovely books, you can check them out here: Kellyn's Books! You can buy her books on Amazon here: Amazon ~ Kellyn Roth Author.

Have a lovely rest of your week! 

Blessings,

Mattie May

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Why I Write HisFic Pt 3 + And 2 Special Announcements!

Hello Readers! 

Welcome to Why I write HisFic Part 3! 

Last week I talked about why HisFic is important, and this week I'm going to talk about why history inspires me and gives me hope!

Make sure you read to the end for two very special and exciting announcements! 

Let's get started, shall we? 

History is real. It really happened. (Oh wow, imagine that!) Other genres don't have that. Because it's real, it's easy for me to relate to, even if it took place hundreds of years ago. Because it's real, it inspires me. 

History gives me hope, and history inspires me. 

History gives me hope: 

It shows me that normal people can overcome crazy difficulties and trials. I love reading and learning about people who were the least likely, and God did amazing things through them. It gives me hope that one day, maybe I'll be able to do something. 

History inspires me:

I love to read and learn about the young men and women in history who did amazing things; they show me that as a young woman I can do things too. I might not speak five languages or tutor in a royal court, but I can do things in my own life, world, and country. 

History shows that even in the darkest moments, God is still there. God still cares, and God is going to work through the toughest situations. He's still on the throne. It inspires me to keep trusting and keep living because I have hope.

***

I hope you've enjoyed reading this series as much as I have in writing it. In case you were starting to feel sad that it was going to come to an end... as all good things must. It is not the end... yet. I'm very excited to announce that I will be interviewing author and writing coach Kellyn Roth! 

I recently found her through an email I got about her recently started Growing Writers program (which ya'll should totally go check out at this link: Growing Writers Program.) 

If you want to learn more about Kellyn and her lovely books, you can visit her website here: kellynrothauthor.com! 

And now, for the second announcement! *insert drum roll* 

Everlasting Gold is back on Amazon! It's finally done! Such a relief. Check it out and see the slightly revised cover here: Everlasting Gold paperback

And that's all, for now, folks, have a lovely rest of your week! 

Blessings,

Mattie May

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