Get to Know the Author
Get to Know the Author

I’ve been seeing some new faces around here lately, and it has been such an encouragement to me to read your comments and hear from you in general, dear Reader!

I’m especially pleased that a few of you who have been reading quietly for a while have felt comfortable saying “hi” here and there, as well!

Whether you found me through a group we’re in together, because I commented on someone else’s blog you were following, or you came here because you’ve already read and enjoyed my books (or if you found me some other way that I haven’t thought of) WELCOME!

A couple months ago before I went on a short hiatus, I invited you to ask me your questions so I could do a sort of “get to know me” post since I haven’t done one in a while.

And boy did you deliver on the questions! Thank you so much! A post like this really doesn’t happen without YOUR help and input, and I am very grateful that you felt comfortable asking away!

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Personal, Writing RuminationsJenelle Schmidt Comments
An Echo of the Fae: Themes and a Sequel Sneak Peek
An Echo of the Fae: Themes and a Sequel Sneak Peek

When writing a book, knowing what themes you want to explore is generally a good idea.

But I almost never start with that. My writing is driven by a weird mixture of world-building, character, and plot. Plot usually comes last. The world and the characters come first… and which one comes first varies from story to story.

An Echo of the Fae was no exception to the rule. As I explained earlier this week, a lot of the story came together after I had figured out who the players were and what the world looked like.

For me, the themes usually stand out to me more after the story is written, and one of my jobs is to pull those themes out and polish them off in the editing stages.

Some of the themes in this story surprised me, but I am quite pleased with how they wove themselves through the plot.

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ideas, Technical Aspects, My Books, Personal, Fairy Tales, CharactersJenelle Schmidt Comments
Through the Portal: a back-page pass
Through the Portal: a back-page pass

“Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!”

Some of you know this already, but An Echo of the Fae was supposed to be a Rapunzel retelling. In its very earliest stages, it was simply the glimmering of an idea as I tried to come up with something that would work for Kendra’s Fairy Tale Retelling Challenge and multi-author-release. She told us that the theme would be Rapunzel back in… I believe it was 2018. And while I didn’t quite make it in time to be part of the release, and my story really didn’t end up being a retelling… like… at all… that is where the first flickers of idea began. That’s where it all started.

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Fairy Tales, ideas, My Books, Sale, Technical Aspects, Writing, Writing RuminationsJenelle Schmidt Comments
Art Contest Winners, a Giveaway, a Sale, and a Birthday Celebration
Art Contest Winners, a Giveaway, a Sale, and a Birthday Celebration

Today is An Echo of the Fae's FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!!⁠

I still can't believe this little story is a whole year old already. I have been overwhelmed by how much people seem to enjoy this heart project that God gave me.⁠

Many thanks to all who entered the fan art contest!

I absolutely love each and every one of these pieces, which made choosing my favorite extremely difficult (as I knew it would be). But the time has come for winners to be announced!

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Fairy Tales, Fan Art, Giveaway, SaleJenelle Schmidt Comments