In Which I return from an unexpected holiday

What… even just happened there?

Did I just… turns around several times, looking perplexed… I could have sworn it was around here somewhere!

Hang on a sec.

Disappears into another room. Returns a few minutes later, even more confused.

Seriously. Where did it go? I KNOW it was July. I had it RIGHT HERE like THREE DAYS AGO!

Looks up and notices audience.

Oh. Heh heh. Hi there, dear Reader. Soooo…. I definitely didn’t mean to go on hiatus for all of July. I had some blog posts planned… I think they were even good ones! I’ll have to use them some other time, clearly.

Nightstand Books of July

When I go on hiatus, I come back with a flood, huh?

Sorry for inundating you with posts this week. I did not intend to do so, but that’s just sort of how this week turned out. I will be back to my regularly scheduled programming of just one, maaaaaybe two posts a week next week.

But it’s the first Wednesday of the month and that means NIGHTSTAND BOOKS! And I missed last month, so I have to make up for it now!

Nightstand BooksJenelle SchmidtJuly 7, 2021 Comments

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!

Personal, Writing RuminationsJenelle SchmidtJuly 6, 2021 Comments

Happy Independence Day!

The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays.

Today we celebrate our freedom from oppression. From tyranny. From other forms of government that seek to control and dictate what we can be and think and say and do.

Today, we celebrate OUR INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Music, PersonalJenelle SchmidtJuly 4, 2021 Comments

All the Giveaway Winners

Thanks so much for helping me celebrate An Echo of the Fae’s first birthday!

Our regularly scheduled weekly blog posts will resume next week, where I intend to answer the questions you asked on the “Ask the Author” post. (If you want to get in any last minute questions, speak now or forever hold your peace!)

GiveawayJenelle SchmidtJune 30, 2021 Comments

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.

ideas, Technical Aspects, My Books, Personal, Fairy Tales, CharactersJenelle SchmidtJune 28, 2021 Comments

Authorly musings

Blog

When I go on hiatus, I come back with a flood, huh?

Thanks so much for helping me celebrate An Echo of the Fae’s first birthday!

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