Behind the Scenes

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...

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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 sister Willow.

(These are the very first sentences, written on the very first day I started working on this project.)

12/11/21:

Switch to 3^rd person? How old should Mari be? Need to have a boy to cater to that audience too. Maybe Willow should stay a girl but Mari discovers (can’t say because of spoilers) in Ahsah? What should his name be? And what is the ultimate battle they will be fighting? Should I just focus on book one or can I look beyond? How can I serve You, Lord? Please give me an outline to go off of.

2/3/22:

Good for now. I think I'm getting more comfortable with the story and not doubting myself as much.

2/11/22:

YAY!!! 2 scenes done!! Praise God! I'm so glad I kept writing even though I was anxious. Thank You Jesus!

2/28/22:

Ok can I just say how cool this is!?! I just thought it should be a swallow and look, God, it’s a bird of freedom that refuses to be caged by fear! It finds its rest only in YOU.

6/8/22:

Thorn in flesh but don’t just resign to it. Will try to renew her mind but she doesn’t understand.

10/20/22:

Nice work this week. I’m realizing that I can write a draft and then come back later and edit… always open to improvements.

12/1/2022:

I think this is good? Is this scene too idealist, too calming or a jump? Am I saying ALIVE too much? I will have to see and trust in the One who writes for me. 😊

1/12/23:

Needs to receive Your truth and be kind and gracious and confident towards herself. Rereading this, I can see how You made this such a deep storyline, and it scares me because I honestly don’t know how to write to do You proud, Lord, but You give me the words and I’m not alone.

5/8/23:

I’m worried that I’m shifting the tone too much since I’ve been writing over the year, but part of me thinks that’s more natural and okay… she grows as I grow.

6/6/23:

Reference to book 2?? Seeing the battle of fear/darkness/emotions?

(One year of editing/formatting later… and book one was published on 7/22/24!)

8/15/24:

YOU MAKE ALL THINGS NEW, KING JESUS. THANK YOU FOR TURNING THIS DREARY DAY AROUND AND BEGINNING A NEW ADVENTURE TOGETHER FOR YOUR GLORY.

(I'm so excited because this was the first day of writing book two!)

9/12/24:

She lives in the east wing bc of rising sun and your new redemptive dawn in her life. 😊

9/19/24:

Nice allusion to you knocking but we must open, Abba. 3.5 pages and more plot planning. You are good, thank you Abba. Use me for your kingdom’s nourishment and glory.

10/8/24:

YOU ARE GOOD. I SUBMIT TO YOU, OH GREAT KING JESUS.

11/12/24:

YOU ARE GOOD. 3.5 pages after my anxiety meltdown? Thank You Jesus, for honoring me as Your imperfect vessel.

11/14/24:

This may be my favorite section we’ve ever written, Abba. Thank You.

11/26/24:

Oh my gosh. You are good.

12/12/24:

I love You, Lord. And it means “cup,” like the last supper and one’s lot in life. Your blessings or curses. That’s why it’s evergreens bc You provide everlasting sustenance and apples bc of the Eden apple that You redeem. I didn’t realize YOU being related to apples was intentional until right now. Thank You, Jesus, for your redeeming, appley grace.

12/31/24:

How cool are YOU?

1/2/25:

You are good, King Jesus. No rushing, already got 42% done and we’ve only been writing 4.5 months. Your Way, not mine, Abba. I re-surrender.

3/4/25:

Our purpose and reality today, tomorrow, and for eternity, ABBA. Thank You.

5/3/25:

1.5 pages in an hour, plus plot line and edits. You are good, Abba, thank You for this creative outlet that pairs so perfectly with our analytical work. You have it all figured out just perfectly, don’t You? Help me trust You more. Clearly, You’re more than able. 😊

5/10/25:

One paragraph in forty minutes 😊 it’s funny because I wrote more, but that didn’t need to stay. Little by little, bit by bit, Abba…

6/5/25:

1.5 pages today, 8 pages these past four days. Thank You, Ruah, the wind beneath my wings and the breath within my lungs 😊

6/12/25:

10 MONTHS MINUS 3 DAYS. YOU ARE AMAZING, ABBA. THANK YOU FOR COMPLETING THIS ADVENTURE. ONE MORE TO GO. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE HOW YOU WILL ASTOUND AND OVERWHELM ME IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY… AGAIN.

(With drafting complete, I began to edit book two…)

6/14/25:

Lord, we wrote this 10 months ago and I’m just now realizing how this analogy stems the entire book. I didn’t know, but You did. Thank You for reminding me that You are in the details; I trust You to work all things out, even if I don’t understand in the moment.

(And now, I’m onto writing book three…)

7/15/25:

Lord, I don’t know what You’re doing, but whatever it is, it’s good. Thank You for new things, oh King of my Heart. Use me for Your glory, uphold me as I cling to You and let the past fade away, in Your holy and precious Name.

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All this to be said, it is AMAZING to look back and see how the Lord's not only been guiding me each step of the way, but how our intimacy has grown over the past four years. When we seek Him, we will find Him (Jer 29:13).

Sooooo, my dear friends, how's your seeking going? Ponder how He's grown you over the years, and pray about how you can continue to grow...

Closer and closer to Him - our King of Kings.