A Poem

 Darkness

. . . . . 

In silent darkness

By my shadows bound

My sword sheathed

My arrows knocked

The mist around me hangs like a dead man

I wish I'd had a plan

The wiles of my heart do tempt

Bow ready and bent

The darkness is my only friend

It hides me from who I've been

Blood dripping from my brow

I clasp my dagger and cry aloud 

Ever have the shadows held me

I'd been to blind to see

In my darkness, it had consumed me...

 . . . . . 

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Reclamation

It was my privilege this last month to get to read Reclamation, which is a stunning new release by Chuck Black. If you haven’t already gotten your copy, now is the time to do so.  Here is my review of this engaging book. 

Plot: Book six of this fabulous series has boosted my expectations for the rest of the series. It was easy to follow Brae in her journey, continuing what her father started. From a small home leading a humble life, to a journey through the stars, she’s now become the warrior she had to be. But walking away from the fires that burned down everything that was left to her, she’s forced to team up with the one man she despises, Rhett Stryker. 

Characters: Brae stumbled through life, struggling through her day to day. Proud, strong, gentle, and loving, she is a truly stunning character and absolutely one of my favorites in this series so far. 

Rhett had what he wanted in his dream career, until in a flash of starship fire, it burned. A Daredevil, protective, and loyal, Rhett was a thrilling, and enjoyable character. 

Content Warnings: Sci-fi violence, romance

Overview: If you are looking for a fast, easy read with all the journey and adventure we all love in Star Wars, then this is absolutely the story for you. With beautiful themes, amazing characters, and a gripping plot, I quickly found that I’d binged the book. 

If you have not ordered your copy then you absolutely need to! You can click here to get yours! 

Four Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

. . . . .

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Google Translate Take Over...

  Normal: Tell Me Why the Stars Dance

Google: Tell Me Why You Want To Dance With the Stars

. . . . .

Normal: There wasn’t long left for me. Darkness and shadows, little bursts of light speckled across the sky, the same view I saw everyday from my perch in the heavens.

Google: Flying and blue light in the dark sky. I see myself in heaven every day.

Normal: Radiating light, I wove through the darkness, the silvery gleam of my dress leaving trails behind me. My heart was hammering in my chest; the pulse fading. I wished it didn’t have to happen. My head shot up, feeling his presence before I saw him.

Google: I saw the glint of silver on my dress in the dark. My heart was pounding in my heart. The pressure decreases. I don't think that will happen. I looked before I saw her, I saw her go.

Normal: I spun around, falling into his embrace. Centuries apart, always millions of light years away, yet he was here. I didn’t know how, but in that moment I didn’t care. His hands slipped into mine, and together we danced through the dark.

Google: I turned to look at his hand. They are millions of light years away, but they are here. I don't know how they do it, but I don't think about it. His hand touched me and our lips danced in the darkness.

Normal: The shadows faded away, even as I felt myself disappear. I wished with everything in me that I could stay, that somehow I wouldn’t have to reform. But I’d had my time and he was younger than me, centuries younger.

Google: He knew the painting was gone because it was gone.

Normal: He spun me around, holding me so gently I thought just for a moment that this was all there was. This moment. Him.

Google: He turned to me and hugged me gently. Also Dr.

Normal: Across the cosmos, across worlds, across lives. Yet all we knew was us. This moment, until at last I felt my body collapse, falling apart, leaving him.

Google: Heaven, universe, life. But we only know this. This time I let go before I felt my body collapse.

Normal: I’d reform eventually, but by then, would it even matter? Would he still be here in the millenia it would take?

Google: I can fix this later, but until then is it ok? Will it still exist in a thousand years?

Normal: Stardust filled the space where I’d been, collapsing in on itself.

Google: Stardust filled my space and fell to the ground on his own.

Normal: No, I thought, turning to glance at Altair– my star, my dream. He was still looking at the place I’d been. Darkness began to form in the dust and what was left of me shuddered. This wasn’t right. I wanted to cry for him to leave. He had to go, before…

Google: I thought not to see Altair: my star, my dream. He continued to look at me. When Blackboard first hit, it was everywhere. This is not good. I want to cry and leave. Must move.

Normal: A scream broke from my lips, as my body began to twist, forming faster than it should have. It was utterly black, and the pain sent tears trailing down my cheeks. This was worse than a simple supernova, worse than reforming.

Google: My lips fell away from me as my body trembled faster than normal. I blacked out with tears of pain rolling down my cheeks. Worse than a simple supernova, worse than an upgrade.

Normal: Altair’s eyes widened, and I managed barely a whisper as the darkness consumed me.

Google: Altair's eyes lit up and I couldn't help but laugh as the darkness enveloped me.

Normal: “Go.”

Google: "Unpleasant."

. . . . .

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Interview with Andrea Renee Cox

1. What inspired you to start writing?

Andrea Renee Cox: My whole life has been wrapped in story. Playing Barbies and Hot Wheels and House and Cowboys & Indians. Reading a million books. Watching a zillion movies. So in a way, I’ve been prepared my whole life for this.

What originally sparked my interest in writing, though, was seeing my dad come home from work and head into his office to write a story. For years, I saw how impassioned he was about this story God pressed upon his heart. God used that observation to prepare me for His pressing a story into my own heart at age sixteen. 

I was hooked and have been lost in writing ever since that first screenplay.

2. How long have you been a writer?
Andrea: I saw inklings of writing in second grade (umbrella pages!), and I’ve journaled off and on throughout most of my life, but I began writing stories at age sixteen. I’m mid-thirties now, so I’ve been a writer for more than half my life.

3. What are some of your published works?
Andrea: I have two published stories still available for purchase (a third is out of print).

Anything (KDWC) features my short story Any Thing about a woman with rambunctious kids, a messy living room, and a disapproving mother-in-law.

Springtime in Surrey (Wild Blue Wonder Press) features my novella The Cottage on the Hill about a former ballerina who cries into her tea every afternoon and the sheep farmer neighbor who wonders why… and what he can do to cheer her up.

More information and purchase links may be found on the Books page of my website.

4. How can people support your writing?
Andrea: There are several ways people may support my writing. Purchasing my books (for themselves or friends) directly supports my writing career. Following my blog or subscribing to my newsletter helps build my platform. The same could be said of following me on social media. I also encourage people to share my blog articles or tweets with their family and friends. Another great way of supporting me is asking the local library to carry my books.

Here are all my social media links (including blog and newsletter):

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/andreareneecox
Blog: https://andreareneecox.com/blog/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/andrea-renee-cox
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/andreacox
Newsletter: https://andreareneecox.com/newsletter/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/andreareneecoxauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/screenwriter87
Website: https://andreareneecox.com

5. What's your primary genre?

My primary genre is Christian fiction. Under that umbrella, I write women’s fiction, romance, and romantic tragedy. Within those, there are a plethora of subgenres and themes that I write. I’m often surprised by the diversity of genres and themes God inspires me to focus on in any given story. 

I especially love focusing on emotion-rich stories. I’m an emotional consumer of art, and that has translated into my being an emotional creator of stories. I like to think all my stories have the potential to move readers’ emotions as well, no matter which genre or subgenre the chosen story belongs to.

Abigail, thank you so much for this interview! It’s been a blast, and I hope we may do it again soon.

. . . . .

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 novelette about a Jewish boy in Russia before WW1 join my email list. Just click here to do that.
 Comment down below if you liked this post! Thank you for your support!

Springtime In Surrey

Vulnerability Deepens Ones Faith

by Andrea Renee Cox

“She sees too deeply.”

~ from The Cottage on the Hill by Andrea Renee Cox, published in Springtime in Surrey

In The Cottage on the Hill, Moira Wood is selective in whom she confides. She suffered a career-ending injury, and when Cottage opens, she’s struggling to come to terms with that. It’s especially difficult for her to open up to just anybody, because she feels more vulnerable than ever before. 

Vulnerability isn’t easy for me either. I don’t like sharing deep things of my heart with just anybody. If I’m going to share, it has to be with someone who makes me feel safe. Yet, God often nudges me to share details of my life with people I don’t know well! In those moments, I lean into His wisdom and trust Him, then dive into the telling. Usually, I’m pleasantly surprised in how the other person or people react, and we enjoy a mutual moment of vulnerability in which we both find solid footing to shore up our confidence and encouragement to make it through the rest of the day.

Being vulnerable deepens my faith. When I open up to God about the things dearest to my heart, I learn more about how deeply He loves me. He always treats my cares and concerns with tender love. He forgives me when I slip up and make mistakes. When I stray, He guides me back onto the correct path. Every step of the way, I gain confidence in my faith journey, because He shows me every time that I am completely safe with Him. His encouragement, lovingkindness, and mercy wrap me in the best sort of embrace: one of total acceptance.

That is, after all, what my vulnerability craves the most.

~

I invite you to give The Cottage on the Hill a read to discover if Moira finds someone with whom she may be vulnerable about the cares of her heart. Purchase and review links may be found on the Books page of my website. 

There is currently a blog tour and giveaway of Springtime in Surrey (which contains Cottage and seven other stories set in County Surrey, England) over on Celebrate Lit. Be sure you get your name in the mix for the prize package that includes a paperback copy of Springtime in Surrey and a $100 gift card for Amazon. The tour and giveaway are April 5–8, 2024.

Please visit my website, where you may follow my blog and/or subscribe to my newsletter. I also host writing camps and challenges throughout the year; information may be found on the Write In Faith Camp and 500 Words of March menu options on my site.

~

About the Author:

Born and raised in north Texas, Andrea Renee Cox is a born-again child of God who enjoys writing stories that inspire, copyediting fiction manuscripts, tutoring middle school students, and going on road trips with her family. Whether she’s working on historical or contemporary, women’s fiction or romance, she uses her skills in research and writing techniques—as well as a large dose of prayer and guidance from God—at every turn in the journey to produce the best story of her ability every single time. Her books may be found on her website, and readers are welcome to follow her blog and subscribe to her newsletter for the latest updates in her journey.

Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/andreareneecox

Blog: https://andreareneecox.com/blog/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/andrea-renee-cox

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/andreacox

Newsletter: https://andreareneecox.com/newsletter/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/andreareneecoxauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/screenwriter87

Website: https://andreareneecox.com

A Snippet

 Tell Me Why the Stars Dance

There wasn’t long left for me. Darkness and shadows, little bursts of light speckled across the sky, the same view I saw everyday from my perch in the heavens. 

Radiating light, I wove through the darkness, the silvery gleam of my dress leaving trails behind me. My heart was hammering in my chest; the pulse fading. I wished it didn’t have to happen. My head shot up, feeling his presence before I saw him. 

I spun around, falling into his embrace. Centuries apart, always millions of light years away, yet he was here. I didn’t know how, but in that moment I didn’t care. His hands slipped into mine, and together we danced through the dark. 

The shadows faded away, even as I felt myself disappear. I wished with everything in me that I could stay, that somehow I wouldn’t have to reform. But I’d had my time and he was younger than me, centuries younger. 

He spun me around, holding me so gently I thought just for a moment that this was all there was. This moment. Him. 

Across the cosmos, across worlds, across lives. Yet all we knew was us. This moment, until at last I felt my body collapse, falling apart, leaving him. 

I’d reform eventually, but by then, would it even matter? Would he still be here in the millenia it would take? 

Stardust filled the space where I’d been, collapsing in on itself. 

No, I thought, turning to glance at Altair– my star, my dream. He was still looking at the place I’d been. Darkness began to form in the dust and what was left of me shuddered. This wasn’t right. I wanted to cry for him to leave. He had to go, before…

A scream broke from my lips, as my body began to twist, forming faster than it should have. It was utterly black, and the pain sent tears trailing down my cheeks. This was worse than a simple supernova, worse than reforming. 

Altair’s eyes widened, and I managed barely a whisper as the darkness consumed me. 

“Go.”

. . . . .

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 novelette about a Jewish boy in Russia before WW1 join my email list. Just click here to do that.

 Comment down below if you liked this post! Thank you for your support!

Reading

5 Tips For Better Reading

There are countless reasons as to why you’re likely here. Maybe you’re in a reading slump. Maybe you have to read a school book and are dreading it. Maybe you don’t enjoy reading, but you want to. Maybe you already love reading, but would like to have a deeper appreciation for it. If any of these are you, then stick with me. 

Tip #1: First and foremost, let me just start by saying that reading is not just for some people. Especially in our fast paced world you’ve probably heard a hundred people say that they don’t like reading. Maybe you’re one of them. But the truth is that reading and language are both God-given gifts and an indispensable source of knowledge and personal growth. Reading is not just for the select. 

Tip #2: Variety is the spice of life. Many people have trained their minds to either love reading or hate it. Some have decided that they only like one type of book (*cough* fantasy readers). But whether you’ve taught yourself to only enjoy one type of book or have taught yourself to hate all types, you are at a disadvantage. Fiction readers must be seeking knowledge as well as enjoyment, and nonfiction readers need to learn to prize stories as well as information.

Now, I'm not saying to romance readers “Go read a horror book!” or telling ‘happily ever after readers’ to go read Les Misérables. Tastes with books are very diverse, but you can't afford to get stuck in a rut either. 

Tip #3: We’ve learned so far that everyone should read, and that we should read widely. But how can you actually enjoy it? Great question. I’ll be addressing how to enjoy non-fiction first, so if you already enjoy those feel free to skip to the next point. 

Okay, so I likely have my fiction buddies over here, trying to figure out how to survive that one school book. Or maybe longing to grow in any given field but can’t convince themselves to pick up a book on it. 

Give yourself a reason! This is fundamental, but I think it needs to be stated. You will never finish any book without a reason to be reading it. Why do you read fiction? Escapism? Pleasure? Excitement? You have a reason. It’s the same with nonfiction. Why would you read it? Growth? Knowledge? Increased opportunities? Good grades? Find your reason. 

Great! You’ve found your reason. What now? Set a time frame. If it’s a school book, there probably already is one. Personally, I give myself one month. It’s plenty of time to finish just about any book, and now I know how much I need to read in a day to complete my goal. 

So now you have a reason and time frame, but it probably still feels very forced. What else can you do? Reward yourself! When you finish those daily goals, go do something you love for a few minutes. Don’t allow yourself to do this thing until you finish those little everyday goals. Have bigger rewards for bigger completed goals! I promise, if you start rewarding yourself you’re quickly going to find that that book is the key to fun! If only for that big reward at the end, you’re going to find yourself longing to read more than you needed to each day. 

Tip #4: How to enjoy a fiction book? In truth, from the non-fiction readers and writers I hear from, there is only one reason you don’t like fiction. Waste of time. You can’t figure out why reading that stuff has any value in the long run. You’re likely a very logical and straight forward person already, but setting a goal to read a fiction book doesn’t help because it still feels pointless to listen too. You can’t find a reason to read it. And the reasons the fiction readers give you don’t help, because you don’t care about that stuff anyway. 

What logical reason can a non-fiction reader have to read fiction? Understanding people better and a love of story. Life is a story, and you write another page of your own everyday. Fiction opens up the hearts of people in ways that non-fiction can’t. Story shows you the start and end of a whole journey, it shows you the prizes and consequences of the character’s actions in a way that is designed to reach your heart and not just your mind. You can read a book on why something matters, but it’s another thing entirely to get to see it start to finish in action. 

Tip #5: DON’T SKIP! This is the most important of them all! Whether fiction or non-fiction, both are art and both have God-given value (See my post on the value of art). Both offer lessons that you’re better with than without. So read! Read widely, read with purpose, and let others know why it’s important. Because if you only read one type or don’t read at all, you surrender to a loss of potential knowledge and understanding. 

. . . . . 

  If you'd like to see more posts like this then please subscribe, and if you'd like to receive my free novelette about a Jewish boy in Russia before WW1 join my email list. Just click here to do that. Comment down below if you liked this post! Thank you for your support!