Currently...

First thing's first: the Little Women read-along.

I am so, SO sorry, Dragons, but the last two posts for #WinterWithLouisa just won't be happening. I feel so bad about it and I'm so sorry that they're not coming!

I know this is an excuse I often use, but that doesn't make it any less true: school makes life difficult. Especially this year, which (although easier than my previous two years of high school) involves a LOT more work, thanks to college prep and college-level courses (one of which is MATH *cue the screaming*).

On a less depressing note, I've picked up an editing job! I'm currently proofreading and formatting a memoir for a family friend. And once I finish that, I GET TO MAKE A COVER!!!! *flails* I'M SO EXCITED!

Another thing I've completely failed to mention over the past few Highlights posts: my mom started a blog!!!! I helped her design it waaay back in August, it's called Lilacs & Lace, and you can visit it by clicking here!*

*Be proud of how discreetly I've dropped her blog link three times throughout a three-sentence paragraph. 😜

BOOK HAUL

No pics this time, I'm afraid! But perhaps I'll include them in my official December Highlights post?

1. Journey's End by Rachel Hawkins. Scotland. Magic. Mystery. Disappearing children. All packed into a cozy li'l MG novel? *nods enthusiastically*
2. Once Upon a Princess: Beauty's Curse by C.S. Johnson. I was a part of CJ's blog tour back in October, and was delighted to win the first novella of her Sleeping Beauty retelling series!
3. Wanted: a Superhero to Save the World by Bryan Davis. MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS WITH SUPERPOWERS. That's all I'm gonna say, guys. 😻
4. Mice & Marriage by Sophie Dawson. A girl terrified of mice? A cute guy who's totally prepared to help her? UM, YES.
5. A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden. I own a copy of To the Farthest Shores, one of Elizabeth's other books, and I've heard such good things about her writing!
6. Where Do I Start? by Molly Evangeline. In other words, one of my favorite indie authors wrote a book on HOW TO INDIE PUBLISH. And so I finally bought it! On Black Friday! IN PAPERBACK! *cheers*
7. Children of Blood & Bone ARC by Tomi Adeyemi. After anxiously awaiting its arrival via a Goodreads giveaway, it finally showed up on my doorstep! It releases in March 2018, so keep an eye out. 😉
8. The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh. So I don't actually remember buying this, but I do remember wanting to read this and then stumbling upon a copy whilst reorganizing my bookshelf. And this is a newer book, so I'm not quite sure how it got there, but okay, I'll take it!
9. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. Reliving the day you die? WHAAAAT. *grabby hands*
10. Chasing Shadows by Ashley Townsend. I met up with Ashley again back in November, and, being in the midst of her gorgeous book Rising Shadows, was ecstatic to pick up a copy of the next in her series!

READING CORNER

1. Night by Elie Wiesel [4/5]. This was a difficult one to rate, seeing as I didn't really like it (it was really disturbing, guys), but I also had to keep in mind that it's a historical account. For such, it was excellently written! It just wasn't my jam. *shrugs*

2. Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay [2/5]. I usually reserve two-star ratings for either (a) content or (b) boring school reads. I really expected to like this because so many of my friends liked it, too, but... 'twas a solid nope from me. 🙁

3. Rising Shadows by Ashley Townsend [5/5]. *sings* THIS BOOK, GUYS!!!! If you haven't read this, then READ IT. If you have read it, then buy another copy and read it anyway! BECAUSE THIS BOOK = SO MUCH YES + WILL IS A COMPLETE DREAMBOAT AND MAY I MARRY HIM PLEASE AND THANK YOU.

4. The Brightest Thread by Tracey Dyck [5/5]. I know, I know -- it's probably not proper to rate books that are still beta projects. But this story, guys... I LOVE IT SO MUCH. And I can't wait for the day it makes its way into YOUR hands!! 💞

MUSIC ROOM

Olaf's Frozen Adventure! And The Greatest Showman! And Taryn Harbridge's singles, Lindsey Sterling's Warmer in the Winter, and Lana del Rey's hits! I also made a playlist for 2017:

My word for 2017 was

                            adventure --

and I'm so thankful for how 2017 played out. I've looked back at pictures and writings from January, and Dragons... I'm not the same person now as I was then. I've grown since January, both mentally and spiritually. 💜

My word for 2018 is

                        light.

I've spent 2017 adventuring beyond my comfort zone, expanding my knowledge and connections, making new friends. I want to spend 2018 being a light to those people, whether it be through talking, writing, emailing, acting, whatever. I want to be a light for God. 💕

WRITING DESK

I've been hard at work outlining The Scent of the Stars, and I'm very excited for where it's going! I might even have a few snippets for you, come January or February Highlights. 😉 For now, here's the Pinterest board:

November/December Goal: Outline TSotS.

Current/Overall Goal: Finish draft one by spring 2018.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER BLOG ROLL

ELSEWHERE IN THE BLOGOSPHERE

• Nadine Brandes revealed the cover for her new book, Fawkes!!!!
• Hannah S.J. Williams and Anne Elisabeth Stengl announced the very first Tales of Goldstone Wood coloring book! *flails* My copy arrived on Wednesday, and GUUUYYYSSS... IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL. 😻
• Shantelle Mary @ Between the Pages of this Bookish Life turned twenty-one! *throws confetti* HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, SHANTELLE!!!!

Q&A: THE WRITER'S "WHEN YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT ME" QUESTIONAIRE

Thanks to Deborah Kelty for creating this and tagging me!

1. WHAT WAS THE FIRST STORY YOU WROTE?

The first one I remember was a short little piece I wrote just before I turned five. It was about a ballerina who was having a birthday party. 😉

2. WHERE DO YOU GAIN INSPIRATION?

Music! The song Welcome Home, Son by Radical Face is sure to get my creative juices flowing.

3. WHO/WHAT ENCOURAGED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER?

For me, it was simply a calling. And then I read Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl... and suddenly, I started taking writing seriously.

4. IF YOU HAD A CHOICE BETWEEN PAST OR PRESENT TENSE, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

I typically use the present tense for first person, and past tense for third.

5. WHAT'S YOUR "KRYPTONITE"?

The INTERNET. *screams* It's-- so-- DISTRACTING!

6. WHAT'S YOUR "SUPERMAN"?

Breaking down the "how-to"s. I'd like to think I'm rather good at that. 😛 If you're ever in the mood for some writing tips, I have a whole page on that.

7. GUILTY PLEASURES?

Description! I might be a little too obsessed with the details. 😜

8. WHAT GENRE WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN WRITING, ONE DAY?

*bursts into song* STEAMPUUUUNK! I already have a trilogy planned out, and I look forward to starting it, someday!

9. FAVORITE WRITING SNACK?

I don't always eat while writing (because I get distracted CRAZY easily), but when I do,* it's CHOCOLATE.

*See what I did there? 😏

Thanks for bearing with me through this rather blunt post! 😬 2018 resolution no. 1: set aside proper blogging time, and TAKE BREAKS!

Speaking of breaks, I plan to be gone until January sixth. I'll also take a social media break, but that won't start until this coming Tuesday or Wednesday. I'd tell you why, but all I can say now is TOP SECRET REASONS. And I CAN'T WAIT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THEM!!!! I should be able to tell y'all in January. 😉

Until then, merry Christmas and happy New Year! Have delightful and safe holidays, my Dragons. 💜

❤,

SONG OF LEIRA // Cover Reveal

"LivLivLivLivLiv WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE ON A TUESDAY???"

YES, I TOTALLY KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING. (Or not thinking. Given my blogging schedule as of late, me here on a Tuesday is probably no surprise. 😜)

Anywhozens, I am here for a very important reason... the cover reveal for Gillian Bronte Adams's fourth book, The Songkeeper Chronicles, book three: Song of Leira!

So, without further ado, scroll down...














...down...















...down...















...WAY DOWN...













Yup! You can stop here! 😀

ABOUT THE BOOK

The song bids her rise to battle...

Reeling from her disastrous foray into the Pit, Birdie, the young Songkeeper, retreats into the mountains. But in the war-torn north, kneeling on bloodstained battlefields to sing the souls of the dying to rest, her resolve to accept her calling is strengthened. Such evil cannot go unchallenged.

Torn between oaths to protect the Underground runners and to rescue his friend from the slave camps, Ky Huntyr enlists Birdie's aid. Their mission to free the captives unravels the horrifying thread connecting the legendary spring, Artair's sword, and the slave camps. But the Takhran's schemes are already in motion. Powerful singers have arisen to lead his army -- singers who can shake the earth and master the sea -- and monsters rampage across the land.

As Leira falters on the verge of defeat, the Song bids her rise to battle, and the Songkeeper must answer.

COMING JUNE FIFTH, 2018

ORPHAN'S SONG (BOOK ONE) & SONGKEEPER (BOOK TWO)

                     

                                       

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gillian Bronte Adams is a sword-wielding, horse-riding, coffee-loving speculative fiction author from the great state of Texas. A love of epic stories and a desire to present truth in a new way drew her to the realm of fantasy. During the day, she manages the equestrian program at a Christian youth camp. But at night, she kicks off her boots and spurs, pulls out her trusty laptop, and transforms into a novelist.

Website // Facebook // Instagram // Pinterest // Goodreads

Isn't it purty? I love the epicness of it... Birdie standing in the ocean with an epic unicorn in front of her, the waters rising, filled with ships... SO BEAUTIFUL. 😍

What do you think of Song of Leira's cover? Have you read any of Gillian's books, before?

❤,

LITTLE WOMEN Read-Along // Week 2 // Chapters 12-23

WEEK TWO IS HERE, Y'ALL!!!! If you happened to miss week one, you're more than welcome to check it out here. 😊

To be honest... I'm kinda behind. On my own read-along. IT'S EMBARRASSING. (But I am on week two's reading, so I'm not terribly far! 😉) Anywhozens, pardon me if this week's questions don't cover all of chapters twelve through twenty-three. I'm tryin', folks. 😀

LAST WEEK...

I am completely LOVING this story! Here are my responses to last week's prompts:

1. Favorite quote: "...But, dear me, let us be elegant or die!" (chapter three). 😜

2. Which March sister am I? I think I'm a mix of Jo and Meg. I love romance and elegance (like Meg), but I'm a writer and rather clumsy person (like Jo).

3. Pink ice cream, white ice cream, cake, fruit, or French bonbons? YES, I'LL JUST TAKE ALL OF IT PLEASE THANK YOU.

4. I want to DAAAAANCE. (Let's ignore the fact that I can't actually dance. *shrugs and stalks off to indulge in more of Mr. Laurence's sweets*)

5. So this question was totally the first thing I thought to ask! But it felt so complex by the time I spilled it all out, I decided to save it for the end. 😉 I really relate to Jo in this regard. There are so many things guys can do that girls can't! But I totally love being a girl, too; pretty clothes, slumber parties, read-a-thons... 💜

DISCUSSION PROMPTS

Same as last time: feel free to answer all or any of the following questions. 😄

1. In chapter eleven, the March girls experiment with doing nothing for a day (and it totally doesn't work 😛). If you could have a day free from undesired obligations (i.e. school, work, etc.), what would you do (while still remaining productive)?
2. In chapter twelve, Mr. Brooke begins to show Meg special attention. Do you ship it or "rip" it? 😉
3. Chapter thirteen opens with Laurie's "unprofitable and unsatisfactory" day. Have you ever had a day that was positively dull/unproductive? If you ever feel that sort of day beginning, what do you do to remedy it?
4. Still in chapter thirteen, the March girls journey to a hill to "sew, read, cone, draw, or do all at once". If you could bring anything (wireless!) and go along with them, what would you bring/do? Why?
5. Further into the chapter, Beth, Meg, Jo, and Laurie discuss Heaven. What do you imagine Heaven to be like?

NEXT WEEK...

Next week, we'll start volume two to discuss chapters twenty-four through thirty-five! (Hopefully, I'll be back on track by then!) 😁

Any favorite quotes? If you've read ahead, do you have any suggestions for next week's discussion prompts?

❤,

UPDATE

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the remainder of the Little Women read-along has been cancelled. I'm so, so sorry, my dear Dragons! I feel SO bad that weeks three and four aren't happening. 💔

I still plan to continue reading Little Women, and I hope you do, too! If you'd like to share your thoughts on chapters twenty-three+ with me, feel free to discuss them in the comments, below.

Again, I am so, so sorry about this! I hope you have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. 💖

COMMON // Cover Reveal

YESSS HELLO I AM BACK FOR A THIRD TIME, TODAY, BUT I FEEL NO REMORSE WHATSOEVER BECAUSE (1) MORE TIME WITH YOU LOVELIES, AND (2) I'VE GOT A GORGEOUS COVER REVEAL TO SHARE WITH Y'ALL!!!!

The cover I'm about to show you is for Common, a novel by Laurie Lucking, loosely inspired by Cinderella, and coming from L2L2 Publishing in February 2018. The cover art is by Sara Hewle. And let me tell you... this cover is absolutely STUNNING...

Scroll down to see it.












That's right. Keep scrolling.












You're --












-- almost --












-- there!












Just keep going...












AND HERE WE ARE!!!!

ABOUT THE BOOK

One person knows of the plot against the royal family

and cares enough to try to stop it -- the servant girl they banished.

Leah spends her days scrubbing floors, polishing silver, and meekly curtsying to nobility. Nothing distinguishes her from the other commoners serving at the palace, except her red hair.

And her secret friendship with Rafe, the Crown Prince of Imperia.

But Leah's safe, ordinary world begins to splinter. Unexpected feelings for Rafe surface just as his parents announce his betrothal to a foreign princess. Then she unearths a plot to overthrow the royal family. Her life shatters completely when the queen banishes her for treason.

Harbored by a mysterious group of nuns, Leah must secure Rafe's safety before it's too late. But her quest reveals a villain far more sinister than an ambitious nobleman with his eye on the throne.

Can a common maidservant summon the courage to fight for her dearest friend?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

An avid reader since birth (her parents claim she often kept them up late begging to hear just one more story), Laurie Lucking discovered her passion for writing after leaving her career as an attorney to become a stay-at-home mom. She writes young adult fantasy with a strong thread of romance, and her debut novel, Common, releases in 2018 from Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing. Laurie is the secretary of her local ACFW chapter and a co-founder of www.landsuncharted.com, a blog for fans of clean young adult speculative fiction. A Midwestern girl through and through, she currently lives in Minnesota with her husband and two young sons. Find out more about Laurie and her writing by visiting www.laurielucking.com.

Eeeep! MUCH HAPPY. MUCH EXCITE. 😍😍😍

Are you excited for Common? What's your favorite thing about this (absolutely gorgeous!) cover?

❤,

A QUESTION OF COURAGE // Blog Tour, Interview, & Giveaway

WHAT'S THIS? I'M BACK AGAIN? WHY YES I AM AND I AM ABSOLUTELY THRILLED TO BE HERE -- *checks watch* -- THIRTY MINUTES LATER! 😀

This March, indie Christian author Jesseca Wheaton released her novel A Question of Honor (book one in the Questions of War series) to the world! Today, I'm very happy to be returning with an interview and giveaway in celebration of the release of book two, A Question of Courage. 😄

ABOUT THE BOOK

A man. A decision. A destiny.

Rafe Sullivan never imagined the war would come to his doorstep. But when Pearl Harbor is attacked and America's focus suddenly shifts to the pacific, he finds he can't ignore the problem anymore.

Leaving the life he loves behind, he joins up to do what he does best. Fly.

Yet, nothing could have prepared him for the horrors of war, and the struggle that is going on in his own heart. As an outstanding navy pilot, he is stationed on one of the few Pacific carriers. But could God be calling him to step out in faith, and go beyond the call of duty?

Lily Wilson gives her all to help the hurting community around her. With the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the war is brought home to many American families. And as a nurse, she longs to be able to relive some of the suffering. Yet, her own grief is still fresh in her heart, and though she's made the decision to get on with her life, she can't seem to leave the past behind. When healing at last comes, the guard she placed around her heart slowly begins to crumble.

But when she receives the news she hoped she would never again hear, can she trust that God’s plan is always right?

Arthur Warrington saw the Navy as an escape from the life he left behind. And it seems good for him. He is able to forge new friendships and distance himself from his past. But when his best friend makes a decision that rocks his world, he is left grappling with the question: what is true courage?

Three lives. One war. And a search for the courage to go on.

INTERVIEW

Hi, Jesseca! Welcome to the blog; I'm absolutely delighted to have you here! First off, would you mind sharing a bit about what inspired your Questions of War series? Was it a drawing, a photograph, a historical document...?

Thank you for having me, Liv! I'm excited to be here! Actually, what first inspired it was a couple random pictures I stumbled across on Pinterest. One was of a couple bidding each other farewell, and one was with a soldier holding a little girl on his lap. If you would have told me that those two pictures would eventually evolve into an entire series, I would have said you were crazy. I stashed them away for a while, and then one day decided to write a quick story about them. The rest, I guess you could say, is history. 😉

What's your favorite thing about writing historical fiction from a Christian perspective? Is there anything you handle or consider differently than someone with a secular view might?

One thing I try to do is always show that even in the darkest parts of WWII, when most of Europe had come under the shadow of the Nazis, light still shone brightly. And that light was held high by those who were Christians and took a stand against the evil.

As a Christian writer, I want to always show that light. To always show that even in the darkest days, there was still light. And hope. Because as the light of the world, Jesus always brings hope. Even in a world that is shrouded by war.

Were there any World War II books or movies you read or watched while writing A Question of Honor and A Question of Courage?

One movie that played a huge part in A Question of Honor was Pearl Harbor. And right now I'd like to just mentioned that I did not watch the entire thing, and most of it was filtered. The movie itself contains inappropriate content and I’d not ever recommend watching it without a filter or some sort.

But the storyline was so sweet and I LOVED the brotherly relationships. And the soundtrack for the movie was pretty much the soundtrack for A Question of Honor as well. 😉

Return to the Hiding Place was a phenomenal movie that is completely clean and such a beautiful representation of WWII. I'd recommend it to anyone and everyone. I watched it during the writing of both books, and it never fails to inspire me to tell more stories about the brave men and women who fought for freedom during the war.

What message do you most want your readers to take away from this series?

The even when circumstances seem to be at their worst, God is still there, and through it all, He has a plan. We may not always see it, but everything works together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose. And because of that, the ending of every story is beautiful. Because it's at the end that you can look back and see how God has worked through each circumstance to make a beautiful masterpiece.

Thank you so much for your time, Jesseca! Last question: what advice do you have for aspiring indie authors?

Share your work with others who you trust. Get their feedback. That is one of the best ways to improve. And keep writing. We all have those first stories that we'd never let anyone read. Writing is just like everything else. It takes work, but it's so worth it!

Thank you so much for having me here, Liv!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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

GIVEAWAY

Jesseca is hosting a giveaway!

The first place winner will receive:

• One paperback copy of either A Question of Honor OR A Question of Courage

The second place winner will receive:

• One $5 Amazon gift card
• One ebook copy of either A Question of Honor OR A Question of Courage

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR SCHEDULE

Wednesday, November 29th

Faith Potts // Stories by Firefly -- review + book spotlight

Libby May // Geoturtle -- author interview

Kaitlyn S. // Maidens for Modesty

Thursday, November 30th

Kellyn Roth // Reveries Reviews -- review

Raechel // God's Peculiar Treasure Rae -- book spotlight

Kate // Twin Thoughts -- author interview

Friday, December 1st

Liv K. Fisher // Liv K. Fisher -- book spotlight + author interview

Deborah C. // Reading in June -- book spotlight

Mikayla H. // Ordinary Girl, Extraordinary Father -- review

Chloe W. // Purely by Faith Reviews -- review + author interview

Abigail // Novels, Dragons, and Wardrobe Doors -- book spotlight

Saturday, December 2nd

Jazzy // Thriving Hope -- review + book spotlight

Angela Watts // The Peculiar Messenger -- review

Rebekah Eddy // Rebekah's Remarks -- book spotlight + review + author interview

Karyssa Norton // No Coffee, No Can Do -- review + author interview

Have you ever read a Jesseca Wheaton novel? Do you have a favorite World War II book or movie?

❤,