Courage, Creation, and The Title To Speak

 

Courage Before “Launch”

As the Kickstarter clock ticks down, nerves rattle louder. The collection is titled To Speak for a reason: it’s a call to step up, speak out, and weave faith with creativity, no matter the butterflies. Yet here I am, tempted to stall, to fuss over perfect copy, to hide behind “research” instead of clicking Publish.

Long posts? Readers skim. Short posts? I fear they miss the heart. The dread says, “Wait until everything is flawless.” The truth says, “Perfection is silence in disguise.” My answer is to break the work into small, honest pieces and share one brave line at a time.

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Call to Writers

If the blank page shakes your knees, hold the pen anyway. Courage is walking forward while fear tags along—write, post, submit, repeat.

Call to Readers

Ready to see where that courage leads? Peek at my Kickstarter Preview for To Speak and join the journey from first tremor to final print.

IWSG July 2025, A New Book, and Kickstarter

Happy IWSG Day!

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the July 2 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, Natalie Aguirre, Cathrina Constantine, and Louise Barbour!

And as always, we are lead by our Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh!

Optional Question of the Month:

Is there a genre you haven't tried writing in yet that you really want to try? If so, do you plan on trying it?

My answer:

Yes, I really want to try writing adventure-tech-paranormal thrillers as a mashup. And yes, I have some scraps of stories that may eventually come together someday.

My current focus for writing and publishing involves my upcoming poetry collection (see more below) and moving forward with The Dark Blade Trilogy this fall with book 2 on the way. 

Why I wasn’t here last month to chat: we had a family member in the emergency room. Everyone is okay now, but it’s part of my life taking care of my elderly parents as an only child. 

Even with life rollercoaster moments, I still keep on going.

My Big News:

I am launching a Kickstarter Campaign for To Speak: Poems of Inspired Courage, Wild Grace, and Sacred Ordinary. 

This poetry collection will include poems over the last twelve years of my writing life, including a poem that tied for second place in the Lakewold Gardens Poetry in the Gardens Contest from 2022, poems which have been published in various places, and new-never-seen-before poems. 

This is a sample mockup of one of my tiers (almost the highest reward one). Please note this isn't the final cover with all the extras on it - gold foil, etc.

To find out more, head to my Kickstarter Campaign Page (or see Monday's post).

A huge way you can help me without spending any money on the campaign is to sign up BEFORE it even begins. If I have a certain number of sign ups, Kickstarter will promote it to their “regular” backers. 

Praying you all have happy writing and find beauty in life for all the month of July and beyond!

And Happy Fourth of July!

 

A Key Kickstarter Moment - BEFORE the campaign starts

Kickstarter Tip

Did you know that a pivotal moment in a Kickstarter Campaign is BEFORE the campaign begins?

It's true. 

Signing up beforehand helps the campaign get early recognition and helps the reach go farther.

Please consider helping me out by signing up for To Speak: Poems of Inspired Courage, Wild Grace, and Sacred Ordinary!

Click HERE to Help

To Speak: Poems of Wild Grace, Quiet Courage, and Sacred Ordinary 

A poetry collection that invites readers to pause, breathe, and rediscover wonder. Through vivid imagery, gentle strength, and faith-rooted reflections, these poems explore what it means to speak truth, heal from silence, and find beauty in the everyday. From garden gates and library nooks to whispered prayers and owl-watched nights, each poem offers a moment of connection, hope, and renewal. 

This Kickstarter supports the launch of the first print edition, beautifully designed and made for those who love language that listens, sings, and soars.

A poetry collection of quiet strength, wild grace, and sacred moments—now becoming a beautiful book you can hold.

Books, Landscapes, and Worlds we Build

 There’s something magical about the way stories shape our sense of place—and how places, in turn, shape the stories we tell. On a recent episode of the podcast, I shared a mix of recent reads that have swept me across galaxies, fairy tale kingdoms, gritty American towns, and mist-shrouded fantasy worlds. I also talked a bit about the real-world landscapes that continue to shape my writing and my imagination.

Recent Reads I Can’t Stop Thinking About

Let’s start with the books. I’ve been on a bit of a genre tour lately—fantasy, thriller, space opera—and each one brought something unique and memorable.

Black Spire (Galaxy’s Edge – Star Wars) by Delilah S. Dawson
I picked this up curious, and ended up fully immersed. The world-building is rich and cinematic (no surprise—it’s Star Wars), but what truly stood out were the characters. The main protagonist is layered and driven, with a strong sense of purpose that kept the emotional stakes high. If you're a fan of found family dynamics and stories of quiet resistance, this one might resonate with you.

To Steal the Sun by Melanie Cellier
This was just plain fun—a fairy tale retelling of “East of the Sun and West of the Moon,” full of magic, heart, and adventure. Cellier’s storytelling is warm and inviting, with characters you root for quickly. A great read when you want something lighter but still full of depth.

No Plan B by Lee Child
Sometimes you just need a fast-paced thriller, and Lee Child never disappoints. This latest Jack Reacher novel is everything you’d expect—tight plotting, relentless pacing, and a protagonist who cuts through complications like a freight train. It’s the kind of book that reminds me how powerful clear, confident storytelling can be.

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
This was a reread for me, and it still holds up as one of the best fantasy novels out there. Sanderson’s magic system is brilliant, the stakes are high, and the characters (especially Vin and Kelsier) remain some of my favorites. Revisiting Mistborn reminded me how much I value thoughtful world-building and the way it intertwines with character arcs.

The Power of Place

As much as I love traveling through fictional worlds, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the real landscapes that shape us as writers and as people.

I’ve lived most of my life in the Pacific Northwest—specifically western Washington—surrounded by evergreens, misty coastlines, and mountains that feel like ancient sentinels. That grounding in fog, rain, and rugged beauty shows up again and again in my own stories, whether I intend it to or not.

But I’ve also traveled far beyond those moss-covered forests—through over thirty U.S. states and several countries. Every new place leaves an imprint: the colors, the textures, the light, the way people move and speak. I believe those experiences feed our creativity in quiet, powerful ways.

In August, I’ll be heading to Mongolia on a mission trip—an opportunity I’m deeply grateful for. I expect that landscape—so vast, so different from the Pacific Northwest—to offer new insights, new metaphors, and new reflections that will eventually work their way into my writing.

Other News

I’m also preparing to launch a Kickstarter campaign for a new poetry collection soon! The page isn’t quite ready yet, but I’m excited to share more about that in the coming weeks. It’s a project close to my heart—drawing on both the inner landscapes of faith and identity and the outer ones of seasons, places, and memory.

Help Me Choose the Cover!

One last thing before I go—I'd love your input! I'm in the final stages of choosing the covers for my upcoming poetry collection, and it's down to just a few favorites.

I originally shared 16 cover concepts on Instagram (yes, I may have gotten a little carried away), but I've narrowed it down to the top 2–3 options for both the regular edition and a special edition hardcover.

💬 Would you be willing to vote and help me decide?
Your favorite might end up being the one featured on the limited edition hardcoverYour feedback means a lot to me, and I want this collection—inside and out—to reflect the hearts of the readers it’s meant for.

So, cream or sage green? 

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How about you?
What stories have you been reading lately? And what landscapes—real or imagined—have left their mark on you? I’d love to hear in the comments or on the podcast page.

Until next time, keep reading, keep imagining, and keep exploring the worlds within and around you.

Two Adventures Ahead: Mongolia Mission & Poetry Book Launch

 (Please note this post will be the same as the one I am posting a few other places, but further ahead, I will post Patreon-only content about these two adventures in the coming months.)

Hey everyone!

I'm buzzing with excitement (and a little nervousness) as I share two major updates with you. Both represent incredible opportunities to serve others and share stories in new ways, and I'm hoping you'll consider joining me on these journeys.

Mongolia Mission Trip - August 2025

In just 75 days, I'll be boarding a plane to Mongolia for a mission trip—and I'm still amazed that this door opened. Wednesday morning, after weeks of prayer and consideration, I finally said yes to joining a small team that's already been preparing for this journey.

This isn't just any trip—it's a chance to support new Christians in Ulaanbaatar and the upper regions of Mongolia. Our mission is beautifully simple: to pray, worship, and sing alongside new believers, and to lift up everyone involved in the Christian church throughout Mongolia. There's something profoundly moving about the idea of joining voices in worship across cultures and languages, united in faith.

Mongolia has captured my imagination for years. The vast steppes, the nomadic traditions, the resilience of people who've thrived in harsh landscapes for centuries—there's something deeply inspiring about a culture that values both independence and community. As a storyteller, I'm drawn to places where ancient wisdom meets modern challenges, and Mongolia embodies that intersection perfectly.

But this trip is about more than cultural fascination. It's about stepping into a community of faith that's growing in remarkable ways, offering encouragement and fellowship to brothers and sisters I haven't met yet. Even though I'm joining this small team late in their preparations, I know this is exactly where I'm meant to be.

If you've ever considered supporting mission work, this is your chance to be part of something that extends far beyond what I could accomplish alone. Every dollar helps cover travel, accommodation, supplies, and resources that will directly benefit the communities we'll serve. More than that, your support means I can focus entirely on the work rather than worrying about logistics.

I'll be sharing updates throughout the journey—both the preparations and the trip itself. Expect photos, stories, and insights that I hope will inspire and encourage you as much as this opportunity has inspired me.

Poetry Book Kickstarter - Launching Late This Month

On the creative front, I'm putting the finishing touches on what might be my most personal project yet: a poetry book that's been years in the making. The Kickstarter campaign launches later this month, and I'm equal parts thrilled and terrified.

This collection represents my journey as a poet, exploring themes of hope, struggle, wonder, and the magic we find in everyday moments. From fantasy-inspired verses to deeply personal reflections, these poems have been companions through some of my most challenging and beautiful seasons.

What makes this Kickstarter special isn't just the book—it's the community aspect. I'm creating reward tiers that celebrate the art of poetry and the readers who make it meaningful. Think signed copies, exclusive content, maybe even some personalized pieces for supporters who want something truly unique.

The campaign items are almost ready. Cover design, formatting, reward fulfillment logistics—it's incredible how much work goes into bringing a book into the world. But that's part of what makes it so rewarding. Every detail represents care for the readers who will eventually hold these poems in their hands.

How You Can Help

Your support means everything to me, whether it's contributing to the Mongolia mission, backing the poetry Kickstarter when it launches, or simply sharing these opportunities with others who might be interested.

More than financial support, though, I need your prayers, encouragement, and enthusiasm. Creative projects and mission work both require courage, and knowing you're cheering me on makes all the difference.

Thank you for being part of this journey. These next few months are going to be incredible, and I'm grateful to have you along for the ride.

With gratitude and excitement, Tyrean