The Creighton Hill Audiobook is Here!

IT'S HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't even want to think about how long this audiobook has been in progress. It's been a LOOOOONG time. But it's done! And on Amazon!

Audiobooks are great and I love them, but I had no idea how much work they are to make. I have a new respect for audiobook narrators. They're superheroes.

Response from my test listeners has been positive: one of my piano students listened to it multiple times. So I'm excited. And now y'all can give it a listen.

So get on over to Amazon and check it out!

P.S. The Carrie Mouse cover reveal sign up is still open, if you're interested.

The Worth of a King Review

Kendra has a new book out! This one is the start of a new trilogy, but it ties in to Rizkaland. In a kind of sad way. Let's just say this involves some villain backstory. But without further ado, I'm going to introduce The Worth of a King.

Princess Obsidia’s father was killed the night she was born. Since there was no male heir, the crown went to the man who killed him, by Dialcian law. This never bothered her, growing up, and when it comes time for Obsidia to choose her husband, she chooses Prince Delaney, the son of that man, with little hesitation. Only then does her life start crumbling around her.

Adrian expected to live a normal life, taking his father’s place at the print shop when his father retired. But, on his eighteenth birthday, when the princess’ engagement is announced, his world is ripped out from under him when he learns that his life was a ruse, and he is the twin brother to the princess – and expected to take back his father’s throne.

Delaney knows that his country is hovering on the brink of war – and that his father may harbor murderous intentions towards his intended bride due to her Zovordian blood. He wants nothing more than to protect Obsidia and his people, but as merely prince, he has little power against his father.

The ancient war between the Dragons and the Immortal King and Queen is nearing its climax, and the three are already caught in it.

******************************************

Yes, I still like Rizkaland better, but I did enjoy this book. I loved the characters, particularly Del and Sidi, it was nice to see pre-Dragon Amber, and overall, it was a pretty enjoyable read.

The worldbuilding in this thing is...just wow. So much detail was put into the different cultures. Such strange laws and traditions. The Zovordians  were particularly interesting, though I personally would not be interested in being one of them. Secret identities are a way of life among them, and their skill in a fight is to be envied (though not as much as Ranger skills...I so want to be a Ranger). They're practically impossible to keep straight, though, with all their names starting with "Z." And the Dialcian laws. What idiot created the law that a usurper can't be tried as a murderer if there is no underage male heir, and thus the usurper has a legal right to the throne? The new rulers need to change that law, because it's nothing but an open invitation to bad guys to kill the king. Corrupt governments! Still, their culture and customs were very detailed and well developed, and I wish I could worldbuild like that.

I enjoyed the political aspect of the story, and could have done with more of it. What can you say when you've been involved in politics since age 8? But mostly I liked Del and Sidi and seeing how their story played out. They both had emotional journeys to go on, a lot of growing up to do, a lot to learn about themselves and the world they lived in. And they were pretty awesome anyway. Especially Del. He was the best. And I do rather like characters with evil fathers (see Luke Skywalker).

There were a few things I didn't like as much, such as how every time they were in danger they seemed to escape to a legitimately safe place, and something about certain characters that is biologically/genetically quite far fetched, but in the grand scheme of things, I can forgive it. Because over all, I did really enjoy the story.

The Worth of a King was an interesting and enjoyable read with great characters, and I think you'll enjoy it very much.

Find the rest of the tour here!

Giveaway: Kendra will be giving away a paperback copy of the book and a 15ml bottle of Peppermint oil (US only), so go visit her blog! She also has a special prize for whoever leaves the most comments across the blog tour – and that one is international.

Author Bio:

Kendra E. Ardnek loves fairytales and twisting them in new and exciting ways. She's been or acting them on her dozen plus cousins and siblings for years. "Finish your story, Kendra," is frequently heard at family gatherings. Her sole life goal has always been to grow up and be an author of fantasy and children's tales that glorify God and His Word.
Find her online at: Website || Blog || Goodreads || Facebook || Twitter || Amazon

Carrie Mouse Cover Reveal Sign-Up

It's almost cover reveal time! I'm really excited about sharing the Carrie Mouse cover with y'all. The book has received very positive feedback from everyone who's seen it so far, and I have to say, Rebekah did a fabulous job with all the illustrations. This book is going to be terrific! Saying the book is amazing isn't patting myself on the back, by the way. I may have written it, but it's all about the illustrations. So I'm bragging on my very awesome, unbelievably talented sister. :) You guys are going to be so impressed.

So we need help sharing the cover. We're going to do this as a scavenger hunt, so we need plenty of people to post pieces of the cover. Collect all the pieces, send it in, and be entered to win a copy of the book and a Carrie Mouse doll. And if you post a piece of the cover, you're still eligible to enter the contest. Go ahead, sign up, and we'll get this show on the road!

My Favorite Picture Books

Since I'm working on a picture book right now, I thought I'd share some of my top favorite picture books. I'm going to try to narrow it down to the top ten, and I may forget some, but at any rate, here are the top ten I can think of right now. (And by the way, this was SOOO UNBELIEVABLY HARD. Honorable mentions were a must.)

10. The Dumb Bunnies by Sue Denim, pictures by Dav Pilkey

Once upon a time there were three dumb bunnies who lived in a log cabin made out of bricks. Momma Bunny was really dumb. Poppa Bunny was even dumber. And Baby Bunny was the dumbest bunny of all.

My sisters and I loved this book so much. It's basically the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but instead of bears, you have three really dumb bunnies. It's totally off the wall ridiculous, but it's awesome. " 'Duh, okay,' said Poppa Bunny."

9. Rumpelstiltskin retold and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

Once there was a poor miller who had a beautiful daughter. On his way to town one day, the miller encountered the king. Wanting to impress him, the miller said, "I have a daughter who knows the art of spinning straw into gold."

This book is the reason "Rumpelstiltskin" is my favorite fairy tale. I'm not really sure why it captured my imagination so, but it did. There's just something about it that's so fascinating. I love it and I want to write a retelling of my own someday.

8. Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

There once lived a penguin. His home was a nice icy land he shared with his companions. His companions were named Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect. His name was Tacky. Tacky was an odd bird.

Tacky is awesome. He's such an odd bird, not at all refined and elegant, but it's his craziness that saves them all from the hunters. I brought it along when I worked at a Classical Conversations Play Camp, and it was seriously heartwarming to hear a little preschool age girl singing "How many toes does a fish have?" as we were getting ready to go out to the playground. I've always loved Tacky.

7. Franklin and the Thunderstorm by Paulette Bourgeois, illustrated by Brenda Clark

Franklin could count by twos and tie his shoes. He could name the months of the year and all the seasons. He could read the thermometer, and he checked the barometer every day. Franklin worried about the weather because he was afraid of storms.

The Franklin books are some of my top favorites ever. They're just so cute and sweet and deal with problems that are so relevant to small children. Like losing your blankie. Or in this one, being afraid of thunderstorms. I especially love it because it explores imaginative explanations for thunder and lightning, and then gives the scientific explanation. It's awesome, and it's Franklin.

6. Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping by Peggy Parish, pictures by Lynn Sweat

"Good," said Mr. Rogers. "It's time to hit the road." "Hit the road?" asked Amelia Bedelia. "All right." She picked up a stick. And Amelia Bedelia hit the road.

Amelia Bedelia basically is me. I've always been quite literal. This is probably the Amelia Bedelia book I remember the best. She pitches the tent into the bushes, cuts the steaks in the shape of a tent, brings the paper bags that are asleep... I love her. And how her talent for making dessert always saves her job.

5. The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

One day the mother called the three little wolves around her and said, "My children, it is time for you to go out into the world. Go and build a house for yourselves. But beware of the big bad pig." "Don't worry, Mother, we will watch out for him," said the three little wolves, and they set off.

Yes, you read that right. Three little wolves, and the big bad pig. It's a fun twist on the "Three Little Pigs" where it's not only a role reversal, but the pig who "wasn't called big and bad for nothing" uses a sledge hammer to demolish the brick house, a pneumatic drill to destroy the concrete house, and dynamite to blow up the barbed wire, iron bar, and armor plated house. It's fun and it's different, and it's awesome.

4. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

In an old house in Paris/that was covered with vines/lived two little girls in two straight lines./In two straight lines they broke their bread/and brushed their teeth/and went to bed.

I got Mad About Madeline: The Complete Tales when I was little and quickly grew to love Madeline. I love the stories, I love the rhyming, I loved the Madeline dollhouse I once got to play with... It's such a classic. A little girl at the library a few years ago told me how she read Madeline and "Fell. In. Love!" It was so cute, and I can totally relate. Madeline is so special.

3. The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith

A long time ago, people used to tell magical stories of wonder and enchantment. Those stories were called Fairy Tales. Those stories are not in this book. The stories in this book are almost Fairy Tales. But not quite. The stories in this book are Fairly Stupid Tales. I mean, what else would you call a story like "Goldilocks and the Three Elephants?"

Oh, the Stinky Cheese Man. I have so many memories of this book. The stories are so completely ridiculous, but in a very clever way, and the narration. Like "So stop now. I mean it. Quit reading. Turn the page. If you read this last sentence, it won't tell you anything." And all the book design jokes. Like how "The sky wasn't falling. The Table of Contents was." Moving up the endpaper to try not to wake the giant. I love it. I read this so many times to the kids I used to babysit. It was their absolute favorite. To the point of sulking if I didn't bring it. That only happened once—I wasn't making that mistake again.

2. Duck for President by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin

Running a farm is very hard work. At the end of each day Farmer Brown is covered from head to toe in hay, horsehair, seeds, sprouts, feathers, filth, mud, muck, and coffee stains. He doesn't smell very good either.

When you grow up involved in politics, Duck for President inevitably becomes one of the best books ever. Duck runs for farmer, wins, Farmer Brown demands a recount. One sticky ballot is found stuck to the bottom of a pig. Duck still wins. But he gets tired of being a farmer and decides to run for governor. And on it goes. So many campaign/political jokes. So many sticky ballots. So many coffee stains. So much awesomeness. "And Duck is working on his autobiography."

1. It's the Bear by Jez Alborough.

Eddie doesn't want to come and picnic in the woods with Mom. "I'm scared," he said, "about the bear, the great big bear that lives in there."

This book is so special to me. It's the first book I memorized as a little bitty kid, and I still can recite the whole thing. Mom has to dash back to get the blueberry pie she forgot, and while she's gone, the bear comes out and eats their picnic...while Eddie "cuddled his teddy, he huddled and hid" in the picnic basket and "a great big bear bottom sat down on the lid." I'm so resisting quoting the whole book right now. It's so cute, it rhymes, and it has somewhat of a complicated vocabulary, using words like "clambered." I was torn when my library discarded it because I could no longer send it home with kids, but hey, I got my own copy and it's library bound! It's the best.

Honorable Mentions (in no particular order)

Froggy Learns to Swim by Jonathan London

Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin

No Moon, No Milk! by Chris Babcock

Pigsty by Mark Teague

Moon Dance by Frank Asch

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka

Eggbert The Slightly Cracked Egg by Tom Ross

Dear Mrs. Larue Letters From Obedience School by Mark Teague

Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion

Arthur's Chicken Pox by Marc Brown

Imogene's Antlers by David Small

Franklin's Blanket by Paulette Bourgeois

Mr. Maxwell's Mouse by Frank Asch

The Sweetest Fig by Chris Van Allsburg

A Sneak Peek at Carrie Mouse

We're getting so close to being done with Carrie Mouse! As it all comes together, I'm getting super duper excited about this project. The illustrations are adorable, and it was so super cool to see the book in the interior reviewer. I can't wait to get a proof in my hands to see how it really looks.

I'm not sure of the release date yet, but I'm shooting for late October/early November. It's going to be awesome!

For today, I'm going to give you a sneak peek at the Carrie Mouse project. Enjoy!

A piece of the cover

The first page of the story

A screenshot from the interior reviewer

The adorable Carrie Mouse doll my sister made
wearing a half finished cardigan I knitted

The Once and Future King

Merlin is on Amazon Prime!

A few years back, my family watched every episode of the BBC's Merlin. I laughed, I cried, it moved me, Bob. It ranks up there at the top, if not at the very top, of my favorite TV shows. Though I have to admit one factor may be that they brought it to a conclusion without ruining it. *glares at Scorpion* When we ended our Netflix subscription, the only thing I was sad about was losing access to Merlin. I even had a hard time listening to the music for awhile, because I'd want to watch this show and I couldn't. Now that it's on Prime, we've started rewatching it, and it's like returning to a very dear old friend I haven't seen in awhile. So today, I'm going to talk about some of the many reasons why I love this show.

The Humor

Let's face it: this show is hilarious. You've got how Merlin is constantly insulting Arthur, and Arthur's awesome responses. Merlin's crazy excuses when he's trying to hide magic. Gwen's adorable awkwardness. Arthur's always thinking Merlin's in the tavern when he's actually off doing something to save Arthur. You've got that episode where Uther marries a troll and Arthur's face is just priceless (don't watch it while you're eating; trolls are disgusting). You've got that part where Arthur starts turning into a donkey, and when he's a simpleton. There's old man Merlin. You've got that time Merlin made death threats against Arthur and Sir Leon just laughs it off. It's all so brilliant.

All the Feels

Goodness, how can a show be so funny and yet so moving? This one is. The love and friendship and camaraderie between the characters. How long Gwen and Arthur are kept apart. Characters dying. Good characters in such a downward spiral becoming the ultimate villain. All the close calls they have and how much the characters care about each other. 

How Gwen doesn't actually have an affair with Lancelot

Everyone knows that in the legends Guinevere and Lancelot have an affair, but the way they handled it in Merlin was the best. SPOILERS While Gwen and Arthur are engaged, Morgana brings back dead Lancelot and enchants Gwen to where Lancelot and Gwen are caught kissing. Gwen's banished for a few episodes, but she and Arthur make it up and get married anyway. The only thing I don't like is that they never discover the enchantment. END SPOILERS

The Character Growth

Arthur grows from a spoiled brat into the best king Camelot has ever known, a man willing to lay down his life for the lowliest person in his kingdom...especially if your name just happens to be Gwen or Merlin. Merlin grows from an idiotic boy who can't stand Arthur and uses magic freely with no thought of consequences to a slightly less idiotic man who regularly risks his life to protect Arthur and uses magic more wisely than before, with saving Arthur in mind. Gwen grows from an awkward and lowly serving girl to a strong and capable queen. Morgana has a downward spiral from a kind and loving voice of reason to a maniac out to destroy Arthur and take the throne for herself, using magic, of course. And we're along for the journey growing and loving and laughing and crying and living along with them.

The Friendships

The friendship between Merlin and Arthur is central to the whole show. At the beginning, they don't get along well, but by the end they're best friends. They're brothers. They rely on each other. They would readily give their lives for each other, and they try on multiple occasions. Merlin, though a manservant, isn't a bit afraid to tell Prince/King Arthur what for. He insults Arthur, tells him when he's being an idiot, encourages him, tells him not to get a big head, and there's no one Arthur would rather have for a manservant. Arthur repeatedly risks everything for Merlin. Uther even threw Arthur in the dungeon once so he wouldn't try to rescue Merlin.

Early on, there's such a camaraderie between Arthur, Merlin, Gwen, and Morgana. They're a foursome. Gwen and Morgana get along well. And of course there's a budding romance between Arthur and Gwen. Gwen tells him off and then apologizes, but it's something Arthur loves about her. Eventually Morgana turns to the dark side and it's sad, but the bonds between Arthur, Merlin, and Gwen only strengthen. I especially love how Arthur is royalty, he has his knights later, who are close to him, but yet his best friend is his manservant, his girlfriend/wife is a serving girl, and his most trusted advisor is the court physician. He is a man of the people.

The Themes

No, I don't love the magic, but for the most part they treat it like an inherent ability that can be used for good or evil, so it could be worse. That aside, the themes of this show are amazing. Over and over again, you see a king who is willing to give his life for his servants, and a servant who will risk it all to serve his king. Hmm, I wonder where we've seen themes like that before? Of course, it's an imperfect example because Arthur isn't perfect—not by a long shot—but still. It's a great picture.

One of my favorite episodes is called "A Servant of Two Masters." I do love it for how funny it is—Merlin has got to be the worst assassin ever—but more than that, I love its illustration of this concept: "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." —Matthew 6:24 Merlin is enchanted to serve Morgana instead of his king. He can't do both. When he's serving Morgana, his only thought is to do what is evil, to kill Arthur. When he is serving Arthur, he cannot comprehend serving Morgana's purposes. He hates the one and loves the other, he is devoted to one and despises the other. I don't know if they intended this parallel or realized what the episode title references, but it's there nonetheless and I think it's amazing.

And there's the theme of using our gifts and talents for good. Time and again sorcerers show up in Camelot using their magic for evil. Time and again Merlin puts a stop to them, admonishing them to use their magic for good. To use it to help others. Whenever Merlin himself uses his gift of magic for wrong or selfish or stupid purposes (even if it's just creating shapes in the smoke of a campfire), it backfires. It gets him in trouble. But when he uses his gift for noble purposes, it doesn't. It ultimately comes to good because he's using the gifts he's been given for their true purpose: to serve his King.

There's so much to this show. Such great characters. Such funny moments. Such moving scenes. Such loyalty. Such bravery. Such friendship. And such love that would give all to serve. It's not a perfect show, certainly, but I will always love it. Because it does so well illustrating this truth: 

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." —John 15:13

Book Bonus Features: Vannie and Kyle Bonus Scene

This is a scene I wrote awhile back that takes place in between Espionage and its sequel. It sort of bridges the gap between the two and is a game changer in Vannie and Kyle's friendship. Kyle is 19 at this point and Vannie is almost 16. Enjoy!

     I glanced back through the trees, laughing. Kyle wasn’t as fast a rider as me, not in the woods, anyway. I wouldn’t admit that he’d probably let me win. He’d slowed to a walk. I pulled up my horse to wait for him. He caught up moments later.

     “You beat me.”

     I flashed a grin at him. “Of course I did. I’m the faster rider.”

     “So you say.”

     I laughed again, not because he’d really said something funny, but simply because I was happy. Kyle was doing the same. We’d taken the being friends thing very seriously. It was long since I had begun to consider him my best friend in all the world. I couldn’t imagine life without him, honestly. He was as much a fixture in my life as my parents and sisters.

     I squinted up through the trees, trying to determine the time by the waning light. “It’s probably time to go back.”

     “I agree.” Kyle wheeled his horse around. “Come on, let’s go.”

     We walked our horses back, talking and laughing over nothings. I was slightly disappointed when we came in sight of the house, despite how my stomach was rumbling for supper. This lovely day was coming to an end, and soon Kyle would be returning home. He was only nineteen, not yet of age, but he still had duties to perform for his vassalage, particularly as his father remained imprisoned.

     “I’m going to miss you, Kyle,” I said.

     “And I’ll miss you. But we’ll see each other again. We always do.”

     My grin matched his once more. I couldn’t be sad around Kyle. I was too glad that he was there.

     Kyle dismounted at the stable and came to lift me down from my horse. He’d done it hundreds of times—I enjoyed letting him play the gentleman, even though I was perfectly capable of dismounting myself—but something was different. Something in the way I was suddenly conscious of his hands about my waist, or the way our eyes met. It took my breath away. He’d been my best friend for almost seven years now, but I suddenly realized that I loved him. And not with friendship type love, that had always been there, but with a marrying type of love. The sort of love that made me wish he would draw me into his arms and kiss me. The sort of love that made me determine that this was the man I had to spend the rest of my life with.

     I loved Kyle Roland.

     He stood as if frozen for a moment after setting me on the ground, his hands still about my waist, his lips slightly parted as if in surprise. Maybe it wasn’t just me that had had a revelation.

     He started and pulled his hands away. “Sorry, Vannie, I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

     I do. But I knew I couldn’t say anything about it. There was that dreadful betrothal business we both had to deal with. “Don’t worry about it.” I couldn’t think of anything more to say without spilling. I didn’t need to.

     “Let’s go in. We both need to change before supper.”

     “Right.”

     We left our horses in the care of the groom and headed for the house. I wanted to slip my hand into his. As children, we had held hands quite often. Now, we were often more reserved in our physical contact—it came with being nearly grown up. I didn’t want to remain reserved. I wanted at the very least to hold his hand. But something told me I couldn’t do that.

     Just before we entered the back door, Kyle stopped and turned to me. “What happened a moment ago, we can’t ever speak of it, even to each other. It wouldn’t be appropriate. There are too many reasons why.”

     I nodded slowly, but couldn’t tamp down the swelling inside at Kyle’s mention that something had happened. It hadn’t just been my imagination, it hadn’t just been me. I knew it wasn’t right to speak of it, though. “I know. I won’t.”

     He looked relieved. “Traditions!” he exclaimed.

     I knew just how he felt. And I might never speak of it again, but that would never stop me from thinking of it.