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.

The First Easter

 The First Easter

Waking to find
the tomb empty,
spices scattered,
grave clothes left,
I fall on my knees,
blinded by tears,
I cry out…
and He answers
with my name.

He is Risen!
Christ is Risen!
Hallelujah!

Tyrean Martinson, April 9, 2023

Inspired by John 20:10-16

#Easter #Easterpoem
#christisrisen

IWSG April: Groove Music or Silence for Writing?

 

It’s that time for the monthly Insecure Writer’s Support Group blog hop, the longest running blog hop that I know of in the world. We meet to encourage, to share woes, and to wish each other well in our writing journeys.

This month, led by our intrepid leader Alex J. Cavanaugh and a team of regular volunteers, we are also joined by the monthly co-host volunteers: Melissa Maygrove, Cathrina Constantine, Kate Larkinsdale, and Rebecca Douglass!

Our optional April 1st question is: If you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?

OR, as I have styled it: Groove Mood or Silence is Golden?

As a writer, I prefer natural sounds or “background house sounds” like the dishwasher running for my actual writing time. 

But, before that, I typically turn on my yearly playlist for a mixture of upbeat songs from pop, rock, instrumental, and sometimes full orchestra music. 

I tend toward anything upbeat and happy, but some years, I’ve added some moody, storytelling vibe music and even spoken poetry to my playlist. I create a different playlist for every year, although some songs move from playlist to playlist. 

A true mixture might include: Good Feeling by Austin French, Stronger by Kelly Clarkson, Tempest by guitarist Jesse Cook, Unwritten by Natasha Bedingford, New Creation by Mac Powell, Boots Don’t by Shania Twain and Breland, Watch Me Do by Meghan Trainor, Falling Inside the Black by Skillet, I Like You by Champagne Sunday, Set it All Free by Scarlett Johansen, The Cremation of Sam McGee performed by Johnny Cash, The Warrior by Patti Smyth, Where Did You Sleep Last Night? Performed by Nirvana, Come Undone by Duran Duran, and Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin. 

I prefer positive and upbeat music for getting ready to write, but I’ll listen to moodier music before certain writing sessions.

However, the music goes off when I’m writing. I tend to be an almost “silence is golden” type of writer. 

Music gets me ready. Silence lets me go into the story world.

Kickstarter Update 

Today is the last full day of my Kickstarter for The Dark Blade Trilogy! The Kickstarter met the main goal in less than 3 hours and I am so thankful for that!

From there, the campaign has continued to build, and I’m super grateful for all who have joined. The Kickstarter ends tomorrow at 8:30am PT (Pacific Time).

 If you would like to know more or join in, please feel free to click the link. 

Kickstarter Link