Updated Cover

My previous cover for my newest novel, Relics of Life, didn’t quite sit right with me. I think my concern was with the dull colors and the faded look of the images. I found another image that symbolizes the story perfectly that is eye-catching and am happy with it. I believe it stands out much better, as well.

So, one step closer to publication with a clean cover and a solid storyline. It’ll probably take 8 more weeks for the revisions and then submitting to my editor, and when she can schedule me in for her line editing, interior and exterior book cover services before I can publish. Therefore, it’ll probably be released in late July or early August.

I’ll keep you updated, of course!

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Step by Step, Real Progress is Made

This afternoon, I managed, while doing revisions to my novel, Relics of Life, to produce what was needed to wrap up the storyline completely. I rewrote a scene, improving it, and added a scene to tie up any loose ends that hadn’t been done in my first draft of this amazing story.

I’ve got several weeks to a month or two before this story will be ready to be published, but it’s getting closer!

My last published book was in the spring of 2022. I’d rather prefer having at least one book out each year for my readers.

So sorry to my readers that I fell behind!

Here’s the possible book cover and blurb for Relics of Life:

Blurb:

The world is in turmoil from Russia to the United States.

Monks Sergius and Herman from a monastery in Russia are sent to the United States to find a saint’s prophetic writings and a small piece of the Cross of Christ that went missing during Stalin’s reign but were smuggled into America in 1978.

The monks’ search takes them to Virginia to the town of Fairview, where quiet introvert Stephanie and her family live in the era of a declining American Empire giving birth to mass surveillance, rampant crime, corruption, poverty, and loss of connection to God and humanity. In addition to the ominous conditions of Stephanie’s town and country is a catastrophic third world war.

Stephanie and her family face harrowing events that are tearing them apart. They must gain the courage to fight to reconnect. As the monks pursue the relics, they meet Stephanie and others at her church–the last one in town. Through their collective prayer and search for the holy relics, they hold onto hope for themselves and a broken, decimated world.

Updates on a summer publishing date in the coming weeks to month.

The #1 Reason I Stay Invested in a Novel

Yes, I know there are many reasons one has for investing in a certain novel.

Some of them could be the first page or two hooks you with the storyline.

One could be the character fascinates you or you relate to the character.

Another could be the descriptions draw you into the world the author has created.

And, honestly, I’d agree with these reasons and do believe they also apply to my reading experiences.

But for me, the #1 lure is the writing style.

If the writing style is amazing, well-written, clean, sharp, and beautiful that fascinates and intrigues me, which make it an extremely enjoyable experience, then I will finish that story, no matter if the story may not be nail-biting or earth-shattering.

Besides, I do love character-driven books. On occasion, though, I’ll delve into a more plot-driven story.

My own written books are mostly character driven. The positive comments I’ve gotten from my readers are my:

Descriptions and settings

Writing style

Easy to read

Fast read

Interesting and intriguing characters

Suspenseful

The fascinating Orthodox lifestyle – traditions and customs

Mystical – regarding Orthodox spirituality

Humorous

What is the #1 reason that draws you into a novel?

You can find all of my books on Amazon (as well as B&N and Indiebound). Check them out:

And my novelette: