IWSG: Publishing and Joyful Reading

 

Thank you Alex J. Cavanaugh for this blog hop!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
The Awesome co-hosts for

July 1 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Cathrina Constantine, and Jacqui Murray!

Joyful Invitations to Read

This month's IWSG question asks:

Is there anything you'd like to see changed, added, and/or rearranged about the book publishing industry?

My answer is simple.

We Are the Publishing Industry

It's easy to think of "the publishing industry" as traditional publishers, but I don't think that's the whole picture.

Authors, indie publishers, booksellers, librarians, teachers, bloggers, reviewers, and readers all help shape the culture around books. We all have a role in inviting people to read.

A Reminder from Realm Makers

Last week I attended Realm Makers, a conference for Christian writers, where I spent several days talking with readers, writers, editors, publishers, and fellow creatives.

One thing stood out over and over again.

People still love stories.

Kids want adventures. Adults want books that leave them with hope, wonder, courage, and memorable characters. They aren't just looking for another product—they're looking for an experience.

My Hope

If I could change one thing, I'd love to see all of us help make reading joyful and invitational again.

Let's recommend books because they delighted us. Let's welcome new readers instead of assuming everyone already knows the language of publishing. Let's celebrate imagination as much as marketing.

As authors, we don't simply create books.

We invite people into stories.

That's something worth celebrating.

---

Now that I'm home, I'm back to revising Dark Blade Unchained, the third book in my Dark Blade Trilogy, and I'm sharing more writing thoughts on The Truth About Storytelling podcast. Thanks for following along on the journey!

What about you? What would you like to see changed in the publishing industry?

Dark Blade Unbroken Proof Copy Arrives

 I'm excited to share that the proof copy of Dark Blade Unbroken, Book Two of The Dark Blade Trilogy, has officially arrived.

After months of writing, editing, formatting, and production work, it's always a special moment to hold a new book in print for the first time. I'm especially pleased with how this edition turned out, from the hardcover presentation to the interior chapter artwork.

The next step is a final proofread and quality review to ensure everything is ready for publication. Once that process is complete, work will continue toward the release and fulfillment schedule for the trilogy.

At the same time, revisions on Dark Blade Unchained, the concluding volume of the trilogy, are underway.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this series and journey through Aramatir. More updates will be coming soon.

Dark Blade Unbroken

The Dark Blade Trilogy, Volume 2

New alliances. An unbroken blade. A battle drawing ever closer.

IWSG June: Ideas Everywhere

 

Thank you to Alex J. Cavanaugh and this month's round of volunteers who make this blog hop possible and fun! Victoria Marie Lees, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and C. Lee McKenzie!

This month’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group question asks whether story ideas tend to come from one place or from many different sources. For me, ideas seem to come from everywhere — dreams, reflections, conversations, music, walking, and simply noticing the world around me.

Sometimes a story idea begins with a single image while I’m out walking. Sometimes it begins with a question, a conversation, or a piece of music that sparks an emotion or atmosphere. Other times, an idea grows out of noticing acts of courage, or small moments of beauty in everyday life. I think that’s part of why I’m so drawn to storytelling in the first place: stories help us process the world around us while also imagining worlds beyond it.

Lately, I’ve been balancing podcasting, revisions, and ongoing work in the world of Aramatir.

I’m currently participating in a BookFunnel promotion featuring my sci-fi novel Lift Off, and I’ve released several recent episodes of The Truth About Storytelling, including conversations about film, mythic heroes, cozy storytelling, and why stories like The Mandalorian and Grogu resonate so strongly with audiences and families.

I’ve also continued reading chapters from Dark Blade Forged on the podcast.

Meanwhile, revisions continue steadily on Book 2 of the Dark Blade Trilogy. During the process, I realized I needed to make some major changes to several events in the story, but I feel it will be stronger for those changes.

Thank you for continuing to support my stories, podcast, and creative journey. I hope your own creative projects are growing in meaningful ways this season as well.

IWSG May: Inspiring Feedback

 

Many thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group for this long-running monthly blog hop!

 

The awesome co-hosts for the May 6 posting of the IWSG are Jenni Enzor, Jemima Pett, Jamie of Uniquely Maladjusted but Fun, and Kim Lajevardi!

Optional Question: What was the most inspiring feedback you’ve received from readers, agents, editors, or beta readers?

This is actually a hard question for me to answer, not because I haven’t received encouraging feedback, but because I’ve been blessed with more than I sometimes remember when sales feel slow.

A few moments stand out.

Several years ago, I received an unexpected email from Hannah Heath asking if she could interview me for her blog because she loved my books. I remember thinking, Who, me? Really? I had no idea how she found my work, but I was incredibly honored—and encouraged that my stories had reached someone in that way.

Last year, I had another unexpected moment. While traveling to Mongolia for my first mission trip—on my birthday, no less—I received an email from a reader who had picked up Dark Blade Forged at a car show I attended. She loved it so much that she asked not if, but when I would be coming to her city in California for another event. That kind of enthusiasm stayed with me. It reminded me that readers are out there, even when I can’t always see them.

And then there was a conversation with an agent last year about a book that isn’t published yet. He saw something in my sample pages—enough to ask for revisions and hand me his card. That moment meant a lot to me. It reminded me that I’m growing, and that there’s more ahead if I keep doing the work.

What encourages me most isn’t just praise, it’s the personal connection. When someone takes the time to reach out directly, it means the story mattered to them. And that’s why I keep writing.

Update:

I’m currently deep in the revision trenches, working on Book 2 of my trilogy. It’s slow, steady progress, but I can feel the story coming together. My goal is to finish revisions and order a proof copy in May, then move on to Book 3.

One step at a time and thankful for every reader along the way.

What inspiring feedback have you received?

From Kickstarter to Story: A Thank You (and a Free Adventure)

 The Dark Blade Trilogy Kickstarter has officially come to a close—and I’ve been sitting with a deep sense of gratitude.

Thank you.

Whether you backed the project, shared it, encouraged me along the way, or simply followed the journey—you’ve been part of something meaningful.

This campaign wasn’t just about funding a set of books. It was about rebuilding this trilogy well, strengthening the world of Aramatir, and taking a step forward in my writing life with intention.

And now, as I move into revisions, proof copies, and production, I wanted to offer something in return.

✨ A small thank you for the entire month of April.

If you enjoy fantasy, especially stories of courage, faith, and the struggle between light and darkness, I’ve joined a group of authors to offer a collection of free adventures.

You can explore them here:

Bookfunnel Link

As part of this, I’m also highlighting one of my own stories set in Aramatir:

⚔️ Champion in the Darkness - my first novel

This story stands within the same world as the Dark Blade Trilogy, but follows a different thread—one centered on a rising Champion, the weight of doubt, and the choice to stand in the light even when the path is unclear.

It’s a story of faith, struggle, and quiet strength.

If you’ve been curious about my work—or if you’ve just joined me through the Kickstarter—this is a great place to begin or continue the journey.

Thank you again for being here, for reading, and for supporting stories like these.