by Maddie

I just spent three hours sorting through five year's worth of old blog posts. Ranging from 2020 to now, I went into all 195 documents and categorized them - for your reading pleasure - into five, easily-to-navigate groups: Artwork, Writing Excerpts, Mental Health, Faith, and Bible Studies (you're welcome). My brain's kinda fried, so we're not going to have a new post this week. However, with New Year's approaching, it seems like the perfect time to take a trip down Handiworks

Readers, guess what... I'm officially writing my LAST book for my fantasy series! I wrote the first two pages a couple days ago (not only three hundred thirtyish to go) and this milestone has got me feeling nostalgic. Soooooo, we're going to be looking at some of the super-secret notes I've written while drafting this series... 11/7/21: Marigold May Summerville would not be your first choice for a hero. She was timid and mild and often falls under the shadow of her older sist

Sometimes people ask me what my favorite part about writing is. My answer always seems to shock them, for it's not about concocting fantasy realms or creating my own schedule or being able to work in my pajamas. It's this: being able to share the Good News with those who may never pick up a Bible. Hopefully, you'll see what I'm talking about (or rather Who  I'm talking about) in this next excerpt: The wind whipped Mari’s hair across her face, splicing her sight and making th

Did you know I write both fiction and nonfiction? While a lot of this blog is spent studying the Word, my fictional pieces also have Christ embedded in them. Take this excerpt, for example... Before all the negative thoughts swirling around her head could take over, movement from a radiant rainbow of light caught her attention.  It took her eyes a second to adjust, but once they did, Mari stared: it was the prince. He was the light. And she knew it because all the glowing gl

Since many of us struggle with anxiety, I felt like I had to put a fear-fighting scene in my fantasy series . While I can't share all of it (spoilers abound!), here's a snapshot of the dark ickiness that weighs so many of us down... She was pretty sure she’d lost her mind. That was the only reason Mari could fathom  why her half-tripping sprint away from her shelter—past the prince and his battle and into the one her friends were losing… and they were losing horribly —was oc

This week, Mari—the protagonist of my fantasy nove l —is going to a ball. I hope you enjoy this silly sneak-peak!   She looked good. Or goooodddddd , as Cresida had put it. Either way, that was not a sentiment that Mari often had. But even she couldn’t deny it. The dress looked like it was made for her, tailored to fit her perfectly. For all she knew, that was some magical property it had. Because, really, it was perfect. Complete with the little white blossoms and shells t

Welcome to part two of How Mari Gets Transported to the Mystical Realm of Ahsah ! This excerpt is rather long, so we're wasting no time in getting started... The end of the week came all too slowly, but finally, her chance to return to the tree had arrived. Lili crashed early after their buffet of Mr. Lance’s famous Korean spaghetti and meatballs. Mari knew she would—she was a sucker for those rice noodles. She waited until it was dark and Miss Lili’s snoring was as loud as a

Our next Marigold excerpt is gonna be a two-parter. Primarily because I don’t feel right making you read an entire chapter. But also...

Readers, guess what... I'm officially writing my LAST book for my fantasy series! I wrote the first two pages a couple days ago (not only...

Sometimes people ask me what my favorite part about writing is. My answer always seems to shock them, for it's not about concocting...

In honor of Independence Day, we’re going to be reading a freedom-focused excerpt from Mari’s story :   Mari knew they wanted her to be like that swallow, the bird that wasn’t chained to fear but free to live boldly and confidently and believe that she was loved and lovable. Even her bright and bold flower-of-a-name pointed her to that conclusion. And the mantra Cresida taught her was helping… unchain… her, as it was teaching her how to look at things less fearfully and mor

This week, Mari—the protagonist of my fantasy nove l —is going to a ball. I hope you enjoy this silly sneak-peak!   She looked good. Or goooodddddd, as Cresida had put it. Either way, that was not a sentiment that Mari often had. But even she couldn’t deny it. The dress looked like it was made for her, tailored to fit her perfectly. For all she knew, that was some magical property it had. Because, really, it was perfect. Complete with the little white blossoms and shells t

We're going to do something a little different today. What is it, you may ask? I've come to the mind-altering conclusion that not everyone is going to read my books. And I get it; fantasy isn't everyone's cup of tea, and I'm sure that a devotional on anxiety won't be either. However, there are pieces of Christ embedded in all of my creative endeavors; thus, I want to start sharing exerts from my written works... not just my visual ones. And so, I give you a piece from my unpu

By the time you read this, I will be in Ireland. {Yes, you read that right. And no, this is not some weird clairvoyant, prophesying thing. This is a Maddie plans ahead and writes her blogs in advance thing.} So yeah. I'm on vacation. And will continue to be exploring all that Ireland has to offer until May 24th. Which means that you and I are in a bit of trouble. How are we going to continue our weekly blog posts while I'm off sightseeing? The answer is simple: We will adapt

This week is different, special. Because yesterday was different and oh-so special. In honor of Easter and our Savior's sacrifice, I thought it would be nice to share a poem... About the beginning. When all was pure. Until it wasn't. As you read, think about God's master plan, His redemption plan, rescue mission. And thank Jesus, our ultimate Rescuer, for becoming our way home. "Eve”   Eve Is what   I am     He says   I used to be     Nothing Enshrouded in darkness Cool and c

I’m sick. Yuck! In light of this, I thought it would be fitting to share a little poem; I hope this reminds you all (and myself) of the hope our Heavenly Father has promised us. Please take heart as you read my writing from a few years ago: "Holy Healer" There is a holy book, a Holy Bible. His Holy Word. Holy is His Name. His Name is Jesus. King Jesus, our Savior, our Healer, our Redeemer. Nothing I ever say will encapsulate Him. He is too great, too awesome, too mighty, too

Sometimes I don’t know what to write about. I really don’t. All I can do is look outside, searching for inspiration in the creation outside my window. And I find it. Or, more accurately, God gives it to me. He breathes creative life into my lungs, His Spirit whirling in the wind. Speaking of the wind… today’s post is a bit different– it’s a poem... Blooms in the Wind I lay upon a grassy knoll and gaze. I behold youthful blooms, so fresh, so new. Like rainbows, blossoms sway

In honor of Mother's Day, I'm sharing this poem about the world's first mother, Eve! Now I know this poem is long, but try to take it all in... feel the weight of the Father's love. “Eve” Eve Is what I am He says I used to be Nothing Enshrouded in darkness Cool and compact earth But then He made me Out of dirt and a figure Form like mine with a cut in his side The figure is Adam Man And I am Eve Woman He says And we are His He says He is Abba

Happy Friday! I legitimately forgot today was Friday, so that's how my week's been :) If you've had a crazy week like mine, take this time to settle and meditate... “The Artist” Crimson With a dab of emerald; That'll be the base. Dips the wide flat brush, An arc of pigment graces pure white. Now where's my cadmium yellow, My peach, umber, blush? Paint squeezed onto palette. Mix. Warm mossy background Replaced by face, neck, body: soft flesh. Eyes, my favorite, like pools of

Happy Friday, everyone! This week's post is a poem that is a bit darker than my typical style... let's just say that the narrator is unique ... “The Delightful Dark” I love the smell of fear. What’s it like, you ask? Oh, a bit like cat pee, I’d say: Rancid, sour, with a zing at the end. Whenever that scent tickles my nostrils, I can’t help but shiver with glee. And if I trace the scent back to its source, I can see that lovely fear as well. And oh, it is a wonderous sight i