Happy 1st Ink Lizard Anniversary!

Today marks the one-year anniversary of my blog, the Ink Lizard! Lots has happened since that day, but there are a few writerly (yes I'm making that a word today even though spell check is angry with me) highlights of the past year that I can share with you.

1. The Ink Lizard was meant to journal my walk towards moving from writer to author. While I didn't have a clear answer when that change will happen, and still don't, there are things I do know:
     a) That while I rest in God's Word and listen to Him as I make choices in life, take chances, and work unto His glory, He will make then when apparent in His perfect timing.
     b) You never loose when you are making friends. Even if you don't know the purpose of a time in your life, God puts people around you to either challenge you, help or cause you to grow, or to support you. So make friends, and be honest with them and treat them like chocolate cake. (Don't drop 'em or smash 'em, and if you treat 'em right they will support you up with laughter and love).
     c) Write write write and never stop. You only fail when you give up.
     d) If a day seems overwhelming, pray, then consider your priorities and pursue only those things. Setting small goals is both encouraging and relieving!

2. My focus has not changed a lot since starting this blog, but what I have been writing seriously with focus has changed. When I started this blog I was pushing myself to finish a three-part series, Atremento Chronicles, beginning with White Hawks. This was the work of over a decade. But I realized it was holding me back from growing. After a lot of prayer and careful consideration I set it aside for a while to pursue other writing projects. I moved on to Lyla's story, implementing techniques I studied from books and followed from the Breathe Conference 2016. Something just never really clicked with that story, though, and I learned that it was because I was still not writing right for me. (Lyla's story is still in limbo right now.) I tried to do everything exactly right, and it was terrible. I knew I was a pantser but now I know it. I absolutely cannot write a story from an outline. I totally loose interest in it. (For those of you who don't know, there's two kinds of writers, the plotter and the pantsers, who fly by the seat of their pants. If you know me, you know this is a little odd because I really love to have everything planned out and accounted for... just for some reason I can't be controlled when I write.)
In the midst of struggling with Lyla's story, and with many other things last winter, I plunked myself down at my computer one Saturday without a plan. All I had was this strong urge to just write, and I didn't know who the characters would be or the plot. I didn't know what was going on, but somehow I discovered with Ember her own fears.
And here I am, beginning Chapter 4. This doesn't seem like much to you, but it is an accomplishment for me after the last several months, and Ember's story is only building. I have so much to tell, and I pray that you will be able to read her story in the future. I have learned to see Ember, but it was a process. Letting go of Nico and his friends was strange at first. It's slowly getting easier and I'm understanding Ember better.

3. My elbow has been 100% healed for a long time now, and I am extremely grateful for the use of my hands again and the energy to do more in the evenings. The Lord answered my prayers and healed my wrists after a time. I can weed, bake and cook, clean and give hugs and hold my favorite squishy little ones. I can write! I do not take these simple things for granted right now, doing these every-day things makes me really happy.

4. Finding time to read is still difficult. I do not have lunch breaks at all anymore, but I often divide up my mornings and manage about 20-30 minutes of reading before leaving work. It doesn't get me very far very fast into a book, but it is something so I'm not complaining. At least there are no more interruptions. :)

5. I am totally planning to go to Breathe this year and very excited to take part in it and see friends again!

6. A non-writerly thing to add: Jemma is learning a new trick- to jump through my arms in a hoop! I'm not really sure she gets it yet, though.

Happy reading, friends, and thank you for sticking with me. I appreciate prayers and would love to hear if any of you will also be at Breathe (will I see you there???).

Trying Out a New Trick with Jemma

I have nothing exciting to share at the moment in regards to writing. There are always books I can talk about (always), and there people I love to share about (who write fantastic books) and there is cats. So, I will take a break from the writing chatter to share about a hobby that I enjoy!

Jemma is a very clever cat, but she is also very playful, curious, a rather pathetic scaredy-cat, and generally just a drama princess. This cat definitely lets you know how she feels about what's going on. She loves attention so much, that I've got her trained almost like a dog. Don't laugh. Yes, cats are totally trainable. I really enjoy the challenge of pet training, I have had several animals and cats are the hardest (rats were the easiest) but they are not impossible. It just requires a different approach. Cats are just wired differently, and come at things with a hunter's perspective: if I invest in this, what am I going to get from it? You just need a lot of patience, and be willing to be flexible. Every cat has a different motivation, so you can't train every cat the same way. When something goes wrong, punishment does nothing- spanking actually makes them feel defensive and they appear to lash out in anger when it really might be fear. Cats have a strong sense of dignity and space, and feel threatened- not just angry- when challenged. The best way to deal with a naughty cat is to use a low but not loud voice, and either walk away or redirect them to something else.

 

Jemma sits, gives high fives and shakes, stands up, lays, and (sometimes- still working on this one) rolls over. I saw on Facebook a video of teaching a cat to jump through your arms interlocked in a hoop and thought this would be great fun. Last night I decided to begin teaching her this trick. 

I made a mistake by beginning with me sitting on the floor. Jemma prefers to follow hand signals I have modified from American Sign Language signs and my body language alongside my voice, so when I tried to get her to walk over my arm for the Step 1 of this trick, she laid down. 

I didn't realize what was happening so I told her "no" and she slapped her tail on the carpet and narrowed her eyes. Me, sighing, tried again, but she would not get up. I even showed her the can of whipped cream. Nada. Just squinting and tail-tapping and sighing back at me. Then I realized that she was frustrated because she thought she'd done as I asked since I sat down on the floor, too. I ended up having mom launch a hair tie over my arm twice in a row, and when she passed over my arm I used to clicker to indicate she'd done something I wanted. The pros do this all the time and call it conditioning. You first do a series of very simple steps to train the animal to associate the sound of the clicker as a positive thing. They look forward to hearing it because it means they will be rewarded. Once they know this, you can start training them to do more things! So you see your pet do something cut or fun; repeat the conditions that get them to do that thing and click when they actually do it. This is repeated until they understand that you want them to do that thing, and then you add a voice and/or hand signal to the action. They will soon learn that you are signalling that thing. Eventually, you can build step upon step using the clicker, and a treat when the steps are completed. It sounds complicated but it really isn't! 

I have used this clicker technique for Jemma, a pet parakeet and a pair of rats. I hear it is very easy to do with dogs, and I have seen dolphins and otters trained at water parks using it. 

Do you have a pet that you have trained to do something fun or unique? I would love to hear about it! 

Interview with Jaye L. Knight

As a proud member of Jaye's Resistance participating in the Weekend Release Blitz, I am blessed to be able to share this author interview with Jaye L. Knight with all of you! Her stories are filled with strong and lovable characters struggling to remain firm in their faith despite the Emperor's cold rule. If you enjoyed the Blades of Acktar, you will definitely like the Chronicles of Ilyon.

 1. What books do you think have the greatest influence or impact on what you write?

I can be inspired by just about any books, but Books of the Infinite by R.J. Larson had some of the greatest influence on me. I read her series about the time I was really developing my writing style and voice, and I think I picked up things from her. Then, of course, there is The Lord of the Rings. I probably never would have started writing fantasy if not for Tolkien.

 2. What do you hope others will take away from your stories? 

That God is in control even in the midst of our greatest trials. My characters go through a lot of awful things, but there is always a purpose in the end. I believe the same thing about life. Even when we don’t understand what is happening, God can see the entire picture and how it will work together in the end.

 3. Who is your favorite character to write and why? 

I’d have to say Jace. He will always be very near and dear to my heart. Ilyon Chronicles all started with him. While I haven’t struggled to the extent that he has, his struggles resonate with me and came from some of my own struggles.

 4. Who is the most difficult character for you to write and why? 

It’s been long enough now that I know my characters well enough not to have too much trouble with them, but in the beginning, I did find Kyrin difficult to write. For a long time, I struggled to figure out exactly who she was. It took a few rewrites before I had a good grasp on her as a character.

 5. If you could make any food or drink that your characters consume, what would it be?

While I don’t have a specific dish in mind, I’d love to try some of the crete food the characters try while they’re in Arvael in this book. Either that or those delicious beef sandwiches Jorvik and his brothers make for everyone when they first arrive.

Thank you, Jaye for allowing me this opportunity!

Ilyon Chronicles #4: Exiles, by Jaye L. Knight

Here we are on Thursday already (this week went by so fast!) and the Usborne Online party is still on. It will now be open through Monday, so if you feel you missed out, have no fear! We are still here!

It is now also time to share Jaye L. Knight's newest release with you! 

Jaye L. Knight’s newest novel, Exiles, has been released! Exiles is the fourth book in the Christian fantasy series, Ilyon Chronicles. Read about it below and be sure to check out the other blog stops on the tour by visiting the official tour page. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

About the Book
Exiled after their defeat in Samara, the Resistance struggles to find allies in their quest to restore King Balen to his throne and put an end to the emperor’s tyranny. When the crete people refuse to lend their aid, Balen leads a group to Dorland to reason with them and win their support. However, enemies prove to be everywhere, and they find themselves in a fight to keep Dorland from becoming Daican’s latest conquest.

Back in Landale, the arrival of a new enemy forces Trask and Anne to tread more carefully than ever. Tensions are rising, and the enemy is determined to test Anne’s loyalty and root out the location of Trask and the Resistance once and for all.

Feeling trapped within the walls of Valcré, Prince Daniel must contend with an ever-eroding relationship with his father. As their clashes escalate, the situation becomes potentially life threatening when his loyalty is called into question. His sister seems bent on branding him a traitor and actively seeking to condemn him to the fate of those put to death in their father’s new arena. Daniel is certain his father would never execute his only son and heir, but with other forces at work, it might not be that simple.

One small misstep could prove fatal for all.

Available now on Amazon!

Haven’t discovered the world of Ilyon yet? The first three Kindle books are on sale August 11^th - 14^th!

You can find them on Amazon.

About the Author
Jaye L. Knight is an award-winning author, homeschool graduate, and shameless tea addict with a passion for Christian fantasy. Armed with an active imagination and love for adventure, Jaye weaves stories of truth, faith, and courage with the message that even in the deepest darkness, God’s love shines as a light to offer hope. She has been penning stories since the age of eight and resides in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.

You can connect with Jaye on her website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Etsy.






Share in the excitement of the release and enter to win a themed giveaway pack! Prizes include an autographed copy of Exiles, a pewter dragon necklace by treasurecast, and a sword letter opener! (Giveaway is open to US residents only. Cannot be shipped internationally.)

Giveaway Link:  http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1f7330c122/?)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review Schedule: 

Thursday, August 10

• Book Spotlight at A Pinch of Faith

Friday, August 11

• Character Interview at Reality Reflected
• Review at Tricia Mingerink
• Book Spotlight at She Hearts Fiction
• Review and Excerpt at Literary Cafe
• Character Interview and Excerpt at A Day In The Life
• Author Interview at The World of the Writer
• Review at WritingAnyone
• Review and Character Interview at Meagan Davenport
• Review and Special Post at R535 Blog
• Review at Leah’s Bookshelf
• Author Interview and Excerpt at Liv K. Fisher
• Review, Character Interview, and Excerpt at The Elven Padawan
• Review and Author Interview at Books and Arrows
• Review and Author Interview at The Artful Author
• Review and Character Interview at Red Lettering
• Review and Author Interview at PageTurners
• Review and Author Interview at Sutori no Hana
• Review and Character Interview at Bookends

Saturday, August 12

• Review and Excerpt at Thriving Hope
• Book Spotlight at Today, by Bryn
• Review at Honey Rock Hills
• Excerpt at Rachel Rossano's Words
• Excerpt at Tell Tale Book Reviews
• Excerpt at The Overactive Imagination
• Review and Author Interview at One Word At A Time
• Author Interview at Marrok Macintyre
• Review and Author Interview at Sarah, Plain & Average
• Review at A Camera and a Dreamer
• Review and Excerpt at Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections
• Character Spotlight at God's Peculiar Treasure Rae
• Review and Author Interview at Sarah Allerding
• Author Interview and Excerpt at Dreams and Dragons
• Review and Character Interview at Resting Life
• Review and Character Interview at The Music of a Story
• Review and Character Interview at Ruffles and Grace

Sunday, August 13

• Review at Woman at the Well
• Review at Lakeside Publications
• Review at Ember's Reviews
• Review and Author Interview The Ink Lizard
• Excerpt at Lianne Taimenlore
• Book Spotlight at Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens

Monday, August 14

• Review at Backing Books

Tuesday, August 15

• Review at Morgan Elizabeth Huneke

Busy Week Ahead! Aug. 7-11 Usborne Online Party & Aug. 11-13 Exiles Weekend Release Blitz

Hello all!
This past week I attended my very last Logos. It was sad to realized the end of an era (a very short one for me since I started going to Logos quite late). The speakers they chose for the sessions and workshops are always outstanding. I may be more than biased, but I think the Reformed circle has an abundance of grounded, deep-thinking men from which the RYS board can choose from to lead these events. This year's topic was "Living with a Purpose" with Ed Marcusse as the main speaker. You can find more details on it here. The day away was at the Henry Ford Museum, but I chose to stay behind. A lot of people do, there are always activities to take part in at the retreat centers, and plenty of people will start up a game if there's down time, too. Since there was a water slide available, I did give that a go and it was great fun! I highly recommend this event as a great way to delve deep into Scripture and learn more about God's Word. It was sad to leave because I realized that there will likely not be any more events like this in which I can go for a few days at a time, just soaking in Biblical teachings every day. I will also miss many good friends I met there, friends from all over the world (not just the United States!). If you want to know more, you are welcome to comment below a question or message me through Facebook and I would be happy to share with you about this great opportunity. Please take it while you can! The committee is fantastic, they are always understanding and want to make the Logos events as enjoyable and comfortable for everyone as possible.

                                            
Also, a quick reminder before we move on to other exciting news- Usborne Online Party will kick off tomorrow (that is, Monday!). It will be held on my writer's Facebook page (check out the little buttons on the right side of my page here and follow the Facebook one) through Friday. There is lots to share! I picked out some fun titles of fairy-tale tellings, and Shakespeare quotations, plus more to share with you and Usborne is releasing a lot of new books this month.
For friends who do write, there are also some helpful books on writing. (I actually have one of them on my shelf and have found it quite helpful for prompts and hints.)

     

Finally, Sunday, August 13 I will post my interview with Jaye L. Knight, author of the Ilyon Chronicles. The fourth installment in this fantastic series is Exiles. I am about halfway through The King's Scrolls (2nd one of the series) and I love it! It is full of adventure and memorable, lovable characters. Besides, dragons are awesome and I want one. Jaye writes them in a very similar way to how I imagine them, and I'm completely melted over Gem (perhaps a little bit because her name and and sweet personality are reminiscent of my own Jemma-cat). I will post more Ilyon Chronicles fun things on Monday in preparation for the weekend blitz!

Keep checking back because it's going to be a busy week over here!