Hey there, friend. Is it just me, or did October fly by like a gaggle of cobra chickens? Goodness gracious, we’d just shoved all the witches and skeletons back into the closet, and already stores were putting out the Christmas stuff and certain radio stations have switched to playing all Christmas music. Don’t get me wrong – I love celebrating the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ, spending time with family and friends, and eating way too many cookies. However, I’d just like to take a deep breath and celebrate Thanksgiving before we plunge into the holiday season.

How about you?

As you probably know, November is National Novel Writing Month. Yes, I am participating, both officially and unofficially. This is how I kick myself into gear for writing book four, Wyldling Blood. Most of what I’ve written thus far amounts to a detailed fleshing out of my outline for major plot points, stream-of-consciousness “word vomit,” and main characters’ inner monologue. Basically pure drivel – and a lot of repetition while I hammer out each scene – but I was told to count those words toward the 50,000 word goal. I’m nearly to the point where I may start writing actual chapters that make sense to someone other than me.

I really needed the distraction of NaNoWriMo this year. November’s beginning was dominated by The Election. Yes, I voted. Here I was, hoping we might finally have a woman president. Politics. Argh! I need to remind myself daily that God is on His throne and He’s ultimately in charge. No matter how bad things get here on Earth, He works things out for the good of those who love Him.

Anyways …

Need an escape from reality and the daily grind? For your reading pleasure, here are some more books for you to peruse.

Disclaimer: I have not had time to read all these books, so I cannot vouch for quality or content. In the case you are dissatisfied, please don’t send the Brute Squad after me.

Finding New Adventures: Fantasy Series Starters

NOBLEBRIGHT & COZY FANTASY

Free Fantasy & Science Fiction

Book Review

The Death of Clara Willenheim by Charlotte Lesemann

I enjoyed this book and would recommend for anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a darker, gothic feel. It’s a page-turner, for sure! Fair warning – even though the main character is fifteen, this is an adult book, not YA or for children.

The opening scene was great. Once I really got into the story, it was hard to put down. This is excellent for reading while curled up on the couch under a blanket with a hot beverage of choice – especially on a dark and stormy night. The prose was elegant and nuanced in a way that I enjoy, especially in the Gothic genre. I appreciated the imagery and the foreshadowing. The creepy, brooding atmosphere was well-developed – right down to the nasty weather. Things were a bit confusing at first, but I ascribed that to Clara being an unreliable narrator, and as the story unfolded I began to understand more of what was happening. The clues leading to what was going on in the family were present and I was satisfied that the major mysteries were sufficiently tied up at the end – at least the mundane ones.
There are horror elements without graphic violence or gore and supernatural and fantastical elements in this story that I really enjoyed. Clara actually interacts with a “ghost” only she can perceive, and the ghost is a character all its own. I believe the author tackled two difficult and possibly triggering issues – s3xual assault and human trafficking – in a way that was suitable for the genre and not gratuitous.
I truly felt sympathy for the main character, Clara, for what she endured, and despised the antagonist for putting Clara – among others – through it all and bringing out the monstrosity in other characters. Clara’s relationship with the other characters was quite interesting to puzzle out. And also how the dead relatives also become characters through Clara’s memories and the ghost’s stories. I liked the historical elements that were brought into the narrative, too.
I loved how the ending mirrored the beginning and showed how far Clara had come since then and how she’d grown from a frightened girl into a confident and secure young woman. I was so happy she ended up having people help her get out of that house and begin a new life.
All in all, this was a good book and definitely a page turner! I’d read more from this author, for sure.

Coming Soon & Recent Releases

Fragments (The Seekers Series Book 1) by J.A. Webb

Here’s a Christian fantasy set in a dystopian future!

Out November 26th and available for pre-order now.

Wyldling Armor (Book Three of the Wyldling Dream Series) by yours truly, A.R. Grimes

Guess what? Wyldling Armor is out in E-book and paperback format, and you can read it free if you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription. You should be able to request the paperback at your local library or from your favorite brick and mortar bookstore.

Yes, this is shameless self-promotion. If you’ve read and enjoyed the first two books, then you’ll like book three. There are dragons, octopi, flaming tigers, merfolk, and a very frustrated and confused villain. If you haven’t read the first two books, may I suggest checking them out? Wyldling Snare and Wyldling Trials are available in e-book and paperback formats on Amazon, and also in paperback wherever books are sold. You can even request that your local library carry them.

What are you waiting for? Go check out Wyldling Armor! I’ll wait …

Have you read Wyldling Snare?

A knight’s first duty is to his realm. When another world calls, will he answer? The wrong choice might destroy all he loves.

Apprentice knight Enoch Northward isn’t ready to lead. But when he returns home to find his mentor dead and the heir-apparent missing, he knows he must rise to the challenge.

But the horrifying truth of his guardian’s death and disappearance of his friends leaves the grieving knight with no time to mourn. In search of answers, he ventures into the forbidden forest. There he discovers a portal leading to another world – and a girl who shares his faith and dreams.

The realm hangs in the balance as a mysterious enemy schemes to destroy it, but not all peril comes from the outside. Enoch himself harbors a secret that could destroy all he loves…

Obligatory Cat Photo

Have a great November!