One On Being Thankful

I know I'm a month early... but right now, I felt the need to take a step back from my situation, and acknowledge the people who are helping me through Satan's attacks.

These past few weeks... months... I've been overwhelmed with the support I've been getting from my friends and family. From a trip to the track, then dinner with dad. To a skype chat with a friend when the smallness of my bedroom becomes encroaching.

I have to admit, being cooped up in the house 99% of the time isn't easy. I'm not the type of person who can really just sit still. And after six months of it... I'm feeling it.

This is why I'm so thankful for people who are willing to help. I've always struggled when it came to asking... or accepting for that matter. I'm independent and kinda aloof. It takes a lot for me to trust. And once you do have my trust, I'll stop at nothing for the care of those I love. I've always given... as much as I could for those around me. I guess it started out of guilt. Guilt... for how much my family required help growing up. Mom doesn't drive and we live out in the country.... so after Dad's heart attack, I aways felt very guilty for how much help we got from our families and friends.

From that point on, I always felt like I had to go above and beyond in order to pay back to the world the gifts I'd been given.

Right now, with how my family and friends are helping me... It's tough. It's tough because I struggle with accepting help, but it's also tough because I feel like I'm burdening others.

But something that's come to me as a... realization as it were, as long as I continue to strive to pass it on, every chance I can... and am gracious... I'm not wrong.

My own spiritual gift is lifting up the weak... and right now, that talent is severely hampered. But not missing... completely as a few of my friends have helped me realize.

So to all of you out there who have been a part, are a part, or will continue being a part... Thank you. Keep me in your prayers, this battle isn't over yet.

VK Out.

Surprise Gift from Lee. Thank you

(This image is my Pony Persona... Really captured me here.)

Hallway of Life

Lord, It's dark!
I can't see!
Are you there Lord?
Can you see me???

I am sitting in the hallway of life.

When did it all happen?
Why did it go wrong?
What are you saying?
Could you be gone?

You've tied my hands,
You've tied my feet,
The doors are locked,
Within this keep.

I can't get out!
I can't be free!
I can't run,
While you hold me...

I'm sitting in the hallway of life.

I've tried the knobs,
I've forced the latch,
Pushed the windows,
But none would crack.

You've tied my hands,
No longer I'm free,
I can't go farther,
While this holds me.

Where is your direction?
When the darkness looms?
How do I keep going?
When all goes up in fumes.

I'm sitting in the hallway of life...

LORD!
I'm sitting in the hallway of life!

Loosen my hands,
So I can be,
The healing hands,
The world sees.

Loosen my feet
 that I may go,
And free the ones,
Held by the foe.

Help me stand,
When arrows fly,
And support my heart,
When I sit and cry.

The hall is dark,
It's length so long
But when the darkness comes,
You alone are my song.

Child Perspectives: The woods

When I was younger, one of the many things I used to define myself by was my 'walks in our woods.' Now, this is one area that has REALLY changed for me over the past five years. Especially true since I fainted three years ago.

First off, if I'm honest, I wasn't really in the woods. I had this tree that was just barely 'in' the woods, but I never went past that tree. The four Tree. This tree was literally three steps into the woods. I had to step off the path behind the barn and there it was. Beyond this point, I never went unless I was with an adult.

Second, why. I have asthma. And one of my top five triggers is mold. I couldn't play in the leaves on the game field, and I couldn't' go walk through the leaves in the woods. If I did, I had to bring along my emergency medication and suffer the consequences over the next week.

My third why, fear, has only gotten stronger with age, to the point where me going into the woods... It only happens if I'm on a cement pathway, and only if I have someone with me.

About fiveish years ago we had a drought kill many of our trees. Including the four tree. Yes, guys, it's gone. And I had a few near misses with some of these branches. I was hit twice, once moving branches and dislodged one and it hit me, the second time I was working on pushing over an almost down tree, kicked it, and it snapped about half way up and hit me. I'm glad BOTH of these were respectively small. Neither one larger around than my arm,  But the combined effort did dislocate my left shoulder. but this only made me conscious of danger, it didn't stop me toying on the edges.

What really made these adventures into the edges of our woods stop was what happened while walking back home from the barn that one time about four years ago. It was a pretty normal walk back, I was on one of those months where I was avoiding being seen if at all possible.  I really try to avoid people who have short tempers. I don't handle being yelled at well. I'd rather ride low and just not be seen, and not go anywhere close, than risk the smallest possibility of some short tempered person venting that wrath on me.

So I was going the long way home, Walking from the barn, through a narrow strip of trees on the edge of our property, around to our driveway, and then back to the house. This is about a quarter mile. Suddenly, the animals around me spooked, the chickens and geese raced back to the barn, and my dog got UNDER me. All around me was suddenly deathly quiet. Toffee started growling. My eyes went up, above me, about twenty or so feet, and to my left about ten was a MOUNTAIN LION. I don't think it was quite full grown, but it was definitely big enough to spook me pretty bad. I yelled at it, it vanished and then I took for as fast as I could back up to the road, then to the house.

It took a week, and several more sightings before I admitted to it. It was such a brief moment I saw it, there are still moments I wonder if it was my imagination. My aunt had been telling me horror stories about such things for almost a year, and some had been seen in our area. On top of a car, on game cams, and the like. Imaginary or not, I won't go into any woods at all without a large group that includes older adults that I trust.

After that, I was sitting on the path beside the goat pen whittling. This is something I previously did a lot. I'm not great, but I'm comfortable doing it. When suddenly I had an urge to go walk. I stood up and started walking back up to the barn. I hadn't gone very far when there was this crash behind me. I turned around to see a branch longer, and almost as big around as I am, laying right where I had previously been sitting.

It later took two men to move it... My guardian angel really had to work overtime back then.

Only twice since this time I've been back anywhere close to the woods. Once with my father to go hunting for the three mountain lions we saw in the middle of the night... We saw tracks and a bunch of fur where they obviously bedded down for the night. And then a ton of claw marks... but thankfully they'd moved on before we got down there to investigate. Talk about REALLY freaked out now. If the other events hadn't been bad enough.

Then the second time a group of ten of us went down into the woods with two adults to be shown our property line. After much argument, and a couple of threats, I reluctantly joined them and stayed in the EXACT center. Holding onto two younger cousins for comfort. (I'm still teased about it.)

After that, My line was the rabbit hutch. But a year ago now a dog got in and murdered my rabbits. I'll never forget the sight. Traumatized isn't the word for it, watching as they one by one died from their injuries. Rabbits that I'd grown to love and cherish. Four died that way, another to a heart attack, then the last was sent away to my aunt's and died comfortably in my cousin's arms of old age months later.

Since then, the front yard, and the road have been my areas to roam.... well, up until this summer.

I won't go into it. But I had another traumatic episode with the forces of evil and now I don't even want to go up to the road. Not that I have time for such frivolity anymore. With everything I'm trying to do, a walk is often the last thing on my mind.

So yeah, That's one area in the past few years I've changed.

To be quite honest, I want nothing to do with the woods. Well, if there is a cement path, and other people... like at a park, maybe. But I'm not doing that alone. You don't have two near misses with a mountain lion and then be careless.

The first time was in the woods, the second my uncle saw it in our play yard... and then I went with my dad to investigate... that story I've already mentioned.

Nope! Brave I pretend to be, Dumb not a chance.

So that's my confession here, I'm going to bed. I'm way too tired to try to think up a way that is clever to call this to an end.

VK out.

So... Where have I been?

One day turns into two, turns into a week, months... then finally you find it's been years. I sit at my desk just looking at this blank page, my stomach churning to figure out where to begin.

I'm not the same person who left here. I'm a leader. I'm a teacher. I'm a poet... and I'm a high school graduate. I'm an artist...

There is a big part of me that doesn't want to do anything here. Not right now anyways. This year I've been bashed by Satan so much that I would much rather duck my head inside the hole and leave it there. But to be honest, that wouldn't be me. To hide from my issues isn't the way I am. I once did. I once would brush things under the rug, try to hide my faults from others... but that isn't what God wants. So I'll strive, I'll press on.

The past three years I took a step back. I had another blog completely invisible to the rest of you that I have been using to figure out MY voice. I didn't want to forever be Kendra's little sister. I wanted to be ME. I wanted people to see me for who I was.

So who am I? I don't think anyone can ever pin that down. How do you catch a cloud and pin it down? Well, in fantasy you could always just say that you have wings and people with wings can just do that... but this is the real world folks. It doesn't just work that way.

So right now, I'm not going to tell you, but if I can keep on top of this too... on top of leading an art group with 23 members, co-hosting a radio show where we review fan fiction and go on what works, and what doesn't. Teach two subject, write probably 20-50 hours a week, (Transcribing and stories) play the piano and violin. as well as try to keep on top of the normal house  chores. If I can juggle it, I'll try to also start posting here again as well.

Sometimes I see the scared little girl I've always been. The child within a great storm with the rain beating on her... lost within the storm and only wanting the comfort of her father. Other times I see in myself the woman I've become. Whatever this is.

So, with the storm around me, and the lion within... I'm going to keep pressing. Despite the storm, despite the snares. The only way out is up. The only way out is to fight your way out.

Right now, I'd rather bury this blog and my friends, and family away. Hiding under a nice warm blanket until Satan leaves me alone. But that will only allow him to win.

So with that said, you guys should expect posts again... I'm keeping a log, so if I don't spend time in some area of what I need to be doing, I'll be able to see it.

This is VK signing out.

Introvert VS Extrovert

For the last few years, I've been putting some time, effort, and study into understanding people; from external, like clothing and body language, to deep down who they are.

There are many levels to people. There are likes and dislikes, what their family situation was at home, who they inspire to be, and deep down, who they are.

All people were born with a core personality programmed into their DNA. This is at the heart of every individual, and can help us to understand what makes them tick.

Today, I'd like to go into MBTI, Myers Briggs Type Testing, to show you one level in which we can understand people. MBTI categorizes people by four main things. Introvert/ Extrovert, Intuitive/Sensor, Thinker/Feeler, and  Judger/ Perceiver.  Today, I'm just going to cover the first.

Introvert, Extrovert is probably the hardest to pin down. Why? Because it depends on how good a person is at going into their 'Growth' state. (I'll get into this completely later) The four letter code is just a key, there is WAY more to it than just a bunch of letters. And with I vs E you switch between them as you go into your different mindsets.

For example; I'm an INFJ. This basically tells you that I'm most comfortable when I'm seeing the world through Introverted Intuition; This is my 'Flow' State, where I feel the most comfortable. However, I can also go into my 'Growth' state, which basically acts like a co-pilot. This, for me is EXTROVERTED feeling. This is true of all types, we all switch between our first, and second mindset. And they are ALWAYS opposites on the I vs E account. Because of this factor, it's often hard for people to pin down whether they are an introvert, or an extrovert.

Now that I've explained this, let me explain what the difference is between the two. Most people think this is the difference between 'shy' and 'not shy.' If you believe in this, you have been misinformed. Often times, extroverts have been labeled as 'shy' and introverts have not. It is a good way to get a clue, but it hardly gives you a decent picture of the concept.

I personally think of Introverts/ Extroverts as givers/takers.  This might sound harsh for a few of you, but it is closer to fact.

I think the best way to explain this, is to take you back in time to the oldest known personality tester known to exist; DISC. Despite being the oldest, this is probably the simplest one to learn, and the best one to use to understand introversion and extroversion. (DISC is it's modern name. It has an older one that I can't recall of the top of my head.)

You see, instead of asking four questions, DISC asks two. This tester asks first, are you an introvert, or are you an extrovert? Since this is what we are trying to figure out, we move on to the second question. 'Are you more concerned about the task, or about the people?'

You see, not all introverts are anti people. Not all extroverts are pro- people. This is where most people get stuck, and therefore miss type themselves and strive to be someone they are not.

Let me move on to explain the four letters of DISC. You see, instead of MBTI's shortened form, DISC stands for it's actual types labeled in the test. D= Determined; D's are known for their ability to lead a job. They are extroverted, task-minded people. While people don't make them tired, they also forget they have feelings. Young D's are often times bullies, they like to be in charge. Unfortunately, because they are not people minded, they tend to abuse those around them.

The second letter is I. The I stands for Involved. I's are extroverted people-people. They LOVE being around others. They are energized by helping. The more they are around crowds, the happier they are. They go shopping, not to shop, but to rub shoulders with a town. These are the people MOST people label as extroverts, it is also only half the story.

S. S is the third letter of DISC. The S stands for sensitive. These people are the Introverted people-minded individuals. While being around others wears them out, they still go out of their way to make others happy. These are often miss- labeled. Because if they get hurt, they become WORSE bullies than the D's. Why? Because they are so aware of who you are, they know how to hurt you the worst. They are not concerned about jobs, they are concerned about you. If overwhelmed, they become mean and nasty, or scared and broken. However, when they are at peace with themselves, they can calm even the darkest of arguments so it benefits both sides.

The last, and final letter is the C. C stands for Calculative. These are your introverted task people. The don't want to see you, they don't want to be around you... and they don't want you to disrupt their 'work'. This is your most well known introvert. But as you have already seen, it's again only half the picture of the introverted spectrum. C's LOVE books. They love math, ledgers, knowledge... They like to know the task, and there can be people in the room for an hour and they not know they are there at all.

Now, let me get back to this topic. Introverts give. They give time, they give knowledge, they give compassion, they give energy, they give. Their energy comes from within. When they are around others, they feel drained. Some even can feel their life energy being sucked from them. Most HATE small talk, because it's a waste of their already low resource.

I've heard of pastors who are introverts unwilling to talk to their congregation because "They are afraid of taking up too much of the other person's valuable time." Many introverts struggle with the idea of gifts. We see it as bribery. I am almost scared of a present, because that means I've got to give something back, or show that I like it. Even if I don't. Then, because of my 'F' nature, (Feeler) I'm also afraid of hurting the other person's feelings. (For those who are wondering. On the DISC test I tested an S.)

Extroverts take. They have to be reminded to slow down, and be considerate of other people, even the I's. Because their energy comes from other people, they need others in order to have energy. This doesn't mean they won't ever feel tired around others, we all get tired eventually, but it does mean they want to go back out and party soon. Extroverts love to go. They will find excuses to be around others, they will call attention to themselves.

Now, this doesn't always mean they are front stage. I' know plenty of extroverts who are stage shy. They don't want you to just watch them. It's not satisfactory, they want to be one on one controlling your life. They want to feel like you revolve around them. They need this, they crave this... and if they don't get it- Ol' Mister D shows up and you have a bully.

When an extrovert is wronged, the extrovert squeaks to everyone. Nothing is private. They'll gossip about what happened until the cows come home. Sometimes, even destroying the person who originally did the action.

For example,

This is classic for this type. Not always do they say WHO they are talking about, but it will be public. 

Introverts don't like being in the limelight. When they talk, it's normally bout themselves, or if it is about another person, it's to help the other person understand the issue. They never mean it to cause harm, and it's only to people they trust deeply. Most Introverts listen more than they talk. And if they talk it gets deep fast. 

Introverts/Extroverts, they are not what you expect are they? Not always are the people you think are introverts.... introverts, or the extroverts, extroverts. 

There is way more on this topic that could be said, but I'd be typing for a month. 

This is VK signing out. 

Beautiful Books; Akeaka

Alright, so I know I've been pretty silent on the writing front, but that doesn't mean I've forgotten about my stories. Next month is NaNoWriMo, and while I'm not planning on posting it on the official site, I am planning on at least trying to write 50K in a month. So, as to not get lost in the woodworks of life... or at least challenge myself to actually do it.

Alright, so here we go. 

1. How did you come up with the idea for your novel, and how long have you had the idea?

The idea for the book came from another book I was reading. It's kinda clicha' actually, kids get stuck somewhere and have to be rescued.' I've been plotting this story however for three years now, and have developed it greatly. 

2. Why are you excited to write this novel?

That is a hard one, while it's been on my mind for a while, it's not the only one begging to be written. But I am excited to work with the Ooklicks, my world's changelings. 

3. What is your novel about, and what is the title?

 The story is called Akeaka, and it is about the friendships made between some captured friends, and the daughter of their captor. 
4. Sum up your characters in one word each. (Feel free to add pictures!)

Udiah= motherly

Zelpha= Logical

Hachi; Innocent

A'Ching; Protective.

Onette; Resourceful (She has white angel-like wings)

Twison; Absent-minded

Theo: Princely

Birdy: Pocahontas

  

(Theo's twin) Trecia (Tr 'see ya): Soft

5. Which character(s) do you think will be your favourite to write? Tell us about them! 

Udiah is the one who started this story. But personally I think it'll be Birdy, because she is the one stuck in the middle of it all. She's the Commander's daughter. So permitted to see the prisoners, but she knows the truth of the what is going on on the prisoner's side as well. 

6. What is your protagonist’s goal, and what stands in the way?

To go home. They are prisoners of a people group that before that point in time they had no idea had existed. So they are unsure even where they are, let alone how to get home. 

7. Where is your novel set? (Show us pictures if you have them!)

Mikada: Sorry, no pictures. The story flips between two places, Udiah's home, Quao, and the prison camp in Ooklick space. 

8. What is the most important relationship your character has?

This story is about relationships. Akeaka is a made up word for the bond twins have. And it's about the group pulling together to survive. 

9. How does your protagonist change by the end of the novel?

At the beginning of the story they are all scared and quarrelsome (One will die pretty quick in the story.) By the end they have come to understand oneanother, and have built deep lasting relationships. 

10. What themes are in your book? How do you want your readers to feel when the story is over?

Huh... I'm an emotional writer period. So it'll go with the story. The first emotion is scared, then horrified, then afraid, then trapped.... by the end- understanding. 

NaNoWriMo BONUS: Tell us your 3 best pieces of advice for others trying to write a book in a month.

Hold on tight, and you might make it. 

Don't let writers block stop you. 

If you doubt yourself for a second, you won't make it. 

Now, I've got to get back to work. 

VK out. 

Summer Fun

English Lesson 3: Improving your writing Style

V.Kathie Ardnek

P. 19-22

August 5, 2015

A. Write a composition of 150-200 words, telling about an interesting experience you incorporate originality and creativity that will make your writing interesting to read? Do your best.

=========================================================

As you guys can see, this is a school assignment. :D Oh I love killing two birds with one stone.

This story starts around the school room. Each one of us were doing our own thing. Despite there nobody talking, the room was not quiet, the hum of the AC, the clank of keyboards, the screech of pencils and chalk, and the rumble of falling blocks echoed through the room. Each one of us had plans for the day, each one of us knew what we would be doing- or so we thought.

Mom's mind never stops, she is always planning something. July heat, plus all that noise had really gotten it going. She had an idea, and we were going to help.

Mom suddenly looked up and over her monitor screen at me, "Hey V, go find four fence posts."

I blinked, my eyebrows shooting straight up like a rocket. "W-why?" I stammer, trying to pull myself up and back out of the story I was working on.

"We are giving the AC a house."

I blinked once more. "A house?" I say, trying to put the puzzle pieces where they belong.

"Yep, with a tarp."

"What tarp." By this point, I was not only confused, but hoping mom would forget this harebrained idea. Fence posts, tarp, Ac; that to me sounded like a project. A big project. One of those projects that first of all wouldn't work. Second of all, would only waste money and time.

However, my luck was not going to get me out of this notion, no sir-y-bob! I was in for the ride, and the bronc was ready to go.

Kendra and I were able to stall mom for a while. Each of us finding something new to bring up in order to maybe let the sun go down, and thereby get out of pounding posts.

At sundown, we breathed a sigh of relief, flashing smiles of success... We spoke too soon. Mom grabbed a flashlight, the two littles and we marched outside.

The AC, or the big silver noisy box that we have to save from the weed monsters every few days or so, sits beside our back door on the north side of the house. From nine in the morning, to five at night, it is in full, unrelenting sunlight. Being almost too small for the area it's supposed to cool, it struggles to keep our house tolerable. This was the reason for the project. To attempt to make life easier on that poor abused contraption.

So with everything that could possibly be needed, (and a few that made no sense) We set to work. The first post, being into a mud puddle was easy. With two whacks the six foot green steel post slid into the ground with ease. The second one wasn't much harder. It went straight into the harder dirt with but five or six mighty thunks. But after that, it got hairy. The other side of the square decided it wouldn't cooperate, We set the third right smack dab in the middle of  a flower pot it was so dark. Our 'wait till sunset' idea was beginning to back fire.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. CLANK!

We all cringed, Kendra examined the spot. "Ooopse, It's the basil pot." She told me.

Palm met forehead as I groaned. "Really!"

We yanked the post back up and moved it a couple of inches running into another flower pot. Then into another, and another. Backwards and backwards we moved it. Finally finding another muddy spot we pounded the post in and followed that one in with the fourth corner.

Then we all scattered like roaches to find the tarp. In getting outside we had not been able to get our eyes on it. I had done a deep clean of the kitchen (stalling) and had moved it from the place we had had it. We were in trouble.

Scouring the house from top to bottom, I finally found it on the couch. Back to business five minuets later, it was time to put our non-existent building skills to the test.

The posts were too far apart. In avoiding flower pots, we had ended up making the rectangle double the size it should have been. Groaning, I lay on the post rocking it as hard as I could back and fourth to yank it up out of the rocky soil to be placed someplace new.

That one was easy, it took a bit, but there were no roots in that location so once I had made the hole bigger, it came out without any fuss. The other one wasn't so easy. That one too I yanked back and forth with the whole of my 102 pounds, the lifted, and got stuck on a root. I don't know  how we got that thing in without hitting the root, then on the way out found it, but I did. Growling, I rocked harder. Twist, rock, lift, twist, rock, lift- POP! Third time's a charm as they say, I was just about to go get a shovel and dig the brute out.

By this point the last light of the day had disappeared, being replaced by the moon's luminescence and fireflies.

In the dark, we went searching for that post banger once more in the dark, finding it, we set to pounding the two posts once more into the ground for a repeat of operation AC house.

That being done, it was time to mount the tarp on top of post and secure them... or not. We forgot that the top of those posts were sharp, and very likely to rip the tarp, making the entire project worthless. So back inside we went to find yogurt cups.

We actually have quite the supply of them, I don't think we've thrown away one ever unless it was split in half, and only if we couldn't find something else to do with it. (Like shovels, boats, scoops, mother's day cards, exc.) Digging through the kitchen, we grabbed the first set we found, short, squat and four times larger than the top of the posts. But it worked.

Now that our posts had hats, we were ready to mount the tarp, or so we thought. We had brought out string, mom wanted twine, and Po had disappeared completely. So with me after the brother, and Kendra after the twine, we met back back outside ready to install the roof.

It only took nine times, and all four of us yanking and pulling, and catching flying yogurt cups before we finally got done. The last twine almost tied on, the AC popped on. And we discovered... we had just suffocated the contraption.

I went inside to allow mom and Kendra to solve that one, (Which they did with cloths pins) and set to work on the laundry.

Mom however, was not done with the big projects. BANG! I looked down the stairs and here mom came with the board mom bought to fix the hole in the floor we made from jumping on the bed. I looked at Kendra, Kendra looked at me, "No!" We both exclaimed.

Five minuets she said. It will be easy she said. Nothing to it! V and I will lift, Po and Sunshine will take care of the wheels (Yeah, her bed has wheels on it) And Kendra will push the board under. The bed.

Three problems. Alright, four... or five. First problem. Kendj and I are so tired, we were falling asleep. Po was now in the middle of a five hour bubble bath. -_-. And we had a five year old girl with a shoe obsession looking UNDER the bed..... But that's an adventure for another day.

Looking under the bed, Sunshine suddenly cried, "MY SHOE!" And dove deep under the bed to grab the object.

"DON't DROP IT!" She cried muffled as us two wimpy girls held up a very heavy bed.

-------------

Oh man I can only laugh as I think back. The AC's house has been rebuilt, and remolded many times. We still are not happy with it. But for now, it's staying as is.

An Eric Interview

*Insert bored look... or the not pleased with her situation look* Greetings folks. Yep... she somehow roped me into two of these... That sister of mine. Anyhow. Let's get this setup so I can get going on other stuff that I need to do.

Back Cover Blurb:

Arthur is the rightful king of Briton, but his Uncle Mordreth refuses to give up the regency.   Arthur and Grandfather are now returning with allies to wrestle the kingdom from his uncle's grasp.  But not all is as it seems among his allies, and everyone has secrets.  New loves, old loves, lost loves, kingdoms conquered and kingdoms stolen.   Who is the real "rightful heir" and will the nearly forgotten sword in the stone finally answer this question?

Author Person: (Nope, she's a Ladybug) 

This isn't her

This is

Kendra E. Ardnek loves fairy tales and twisting them in new and exciting ways.  She's been practicing her skills on her dozen plus cousins and siblings for years, "Finish your story, Kendra", is frequently heard at family gatherings.  Her sole life goal has always been to grow up and be an author of fantasy and children's tales that also glorify God and his Word. You can read more about her on her blog,knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com.

Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23563093-my-kingdom-for-a-quest

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Quest-Bookania-Quests-Book-ebook/dp/B00RN7T004

Paperback: https://www.createspace.com/4322491

To help promote my new book, I have my other books scheduled to be free on the various following days. Please include on your post whichever books are free on the day of your post(s).

16th-20thhttp://www.amazon.com/Take-This-Quest-Bookania-Quests-ebook/dp/B00CFDHFT4/

17th-21st http://www.amazon.com/Saffrons-Big-Plan-Other-Stories-ebook/dp/B008EYY1C2/

Link to tour Schedule: http://knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com/p/blog-tour-sign-up.html

As they continued to search for some sign of life – even Doranna’s aviary was empty – Robin became more and more frantic. Soon “everyone’s missing” escalated into “they’re in danger,” from which naturally followed “we must rescue them!” And that somehow translated into Robin storming through the entire castle, gathering every weapon she could find, and depositing them in a huge pile in the front entry way.

“You know,” Eric remarked, as he followed at a safe distance – Robin with a sword in her hands was a dangerous thing in any situation, and right now she was on the warpath, “I’m not sure King Jonathan would be too excited about finding every weapon in his castle in the front entry way …”

She spun around. “Well, we can’t just sit around doing nothing!” She spun back around and continued her march. “They’re in trouble, I know they are!”

Eric took a deep breath. “And I’m quite sure they’re not.”

“And what makes you so sure?” she threw over her shoulder. “They’re missing – explain that!”

Eric hesitated a moment, not exactly sure how to put it in words. “It’s a feeling I get. I just know when someone’s in trouble. They’re not.”

“You’re the one who thought that the path was going to disappear.” She reached the pile and deposited the sword she carried.

“Robin, can we please think about this logically for a moment,” Eric pleaded, positioning himself in front of the door she headed towards.

“Them being in danger is perfectly logical,” she pointed out, shooting him a glare before she disappeared through a different door.

Eric sighed and followed her. “Yes, but piling all the weapons in the entry way is not.”

“We have to do something!”

“I understand, but how will a pile of weapons help them?”

“They’ll need them when we find them.”

“And exactly how are we going to get the weapons to them?”

She actually paused for half a moment. “I …” she began, and then she snapped back into her brisk pace.  “You think of something.”

“Ah, so that’s how it’s done,” said Eric, shaking his head.

And now for the questions. 

1. What went through your mind when suddenly your sword was in the ceiling and a girl had put it there?

It was something along the lines of “Father’s not going to like this, and there goes my chance of being the youngest student ever to be admitted to the academy.” 

2. Which attempted rescue of an Enchanted Princess was your favorite?

The Mountain Princess, because I met Casperl during it, and set him on the path towards his own rescue of her. The other attempts were pretty much futile.

3. Favorite Memory involving your brother?

The first time I ever bested him with the sword. He was nine and I was five, and he didn’t speak to me again for three weeks. Ah, good memories, though I don’t think he’s ever forgiven me for it.

4. What is your favorite food?

Blueberry tarts. For some reason, I always associate them with a job well done.

5. What was your earliest memory?

Well, it’s not any one memory in particular, but I do remember that I could frequently get my rocking horse rocking so hard that I would actually travel across the room as I imagined myself the hero of the tales my nurse would tell me.

And so, that is it, I have tons to do today, so I have to go. 

Till Next time

V. Kathie Ardnek Out. 

Kendra's Blog Tour; How (not) to write a book.

As Many of you guys know, Kendra, my elder sister, is an author... and as an author she sometimes publishes books, and when you just happen to be the younger sister... You just happen to get in on it whether you like it or not. Enjoy. 

Back Cover Blurb:

Arthur is the rightful king of Briton, but his Uncle Mordreth refuses to give up the regency.   Arthur and Grandfather are now returning with allies to wrestle the kingdom from his uncle's grasp.  But not all is as it seems among his allies, and everyone has secrets.  New loves, old loves, lost loves, kingdoms conquered and kingdoms stolen.   Who is the real "rightful heir" and will the nearly forgotten sword in the stone finally answer this question?

Author Person: (really sis! I thought you were a giraffe)

Kendra E. Ardnek loves fairy tales and twisting them in new and exciting ways.  She's been practicing her skills on her dozen plus cousins and siblings for years, "Finish your story, Kendra", is frequently heard at family gatherings.  Her sole life goal has always been to grow up and be an author of fantasy and children's tales that also glorify God and his Word. You can read more about her on her blog,knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com.

Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23563093-my-kingdom-for-a-quest

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Quest-Bookania-Quests-Book-ebook/dp/B00RN7T004
Paperback: https://www.createspace.com/4322491


To help promote my new book, I have my other books scheduled to be free on the various following days. Please include on your post whichever books are free on the day of your post(s).

14th-18thhttp://www.amazon.com/Sew-Quest-Bookania-Quests-Book-ebook/dp/B005G3ZFKG/

14th-18thhttp://www.amazon.com/The-Woodcutter-Quince-Other-Stories-ebook/dp/B00QHEGJEY/

14th-17thhttp://www.amazon.com/Ankulen-Kendra-E-Ardnek-ebook/dp/B00EZAXWYM/

16th-20thhttp://www.amazon.com/Take-This-Quest-Bookania-Quests-ebook/dp/B00CFDHFT4/

17th-21st http://www.amazon.com/Saffrons-Big-Plan-Other-Stories-ebook/dp/B008EYY1C2/


Link to tour Schedule: http://knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com/p/blog-tour-sign-up.html

Snip it

Her posture relaxed slightly, and a grin pulled at the corner of her mouth. “Well, in that case, catch.”
Arthur had barely enough time to put up his hand before he found the sword she had been polishing in it. And then he had barely enough time to raise that sword before the blade was crossed with the one she wore at her side.
After barely blocking a few vicious blows, the sword was twisted out of his hands. A moment later, Robin was back at the bottom of the pile, polishing the sword as though it had never left her hand. A smirk pulled at one corner of her mouth. “Well, now I know what we have to work with.”
Arthur swallowed, glancing down at his empty hand. She didn’t sound terribly impressed.
“I’ve had suitors worse than you, that’s for certain,” she continued. “Your worst problem, as I suspected, is that you’re nervous about the fact that it’s a real sword.”
“Well, I’ve never actually held a real sword before in my life,” Arthur protested.
“My condolences. It’s taught you bad habits.” She held up the sword he’d used and pointed to a few notches in the blade. “These weren’t here five minutes ago. You blocked wrong – with the edge rather than the flat. Of course, that is precisely why I gave you a sword with such inferior metal, so you wouldn’t damage my sword.”


And now folks, for the main event. Her tips for writing... *insert face palm* You guys will understand in a moment. Here we go.


It seems my sister wrote a post about writing an essay several weeks back and you guys loved it and wanted her to follow it with a post about how to write a book. Except that, while she’s a good writer, she doesn’t consider herself to be an expert on the subject, so when I told her that she had to put up a post for me during my blog tour, she presented me with the topic.

I’m the author of six books now, I should be an expert, right?

It’s a simple process, really. I don’t know why everyone insists on making such a huge deal of it.

First, decide you want to write a book. (See, I said it was simple) Whether or not you have story is another issue. Just decide you want to write a book.

Once you have that goal fixed firmly in your mind (and blasted across every social media site you can find), find Microsoft Word on your computer (unless it’s Windows 7 or newer, in which case, you’ll have to go find a program to download online, such as Open Office – or a Mac, but I’ve never used a Mac, so I can’t help you there), and open up a nice, new, shiny document and … stare at the flashing curser for about ten minutes as it crashes upon you that you don’t even have a title.

Quickly back-peddle back to those social media sites and beg and plead for tips from anyone who might have any experience with writing. Among all of the bad advice (which you assume is solid gold), you get directed to a couple dozen writing blogs and books, which you devour eagerly, and that in order to write a book, you need Characters, Conflict, and Conversations.

Characters first … well, you’re an interesting person, so you decide that your main character is going to be just like you … except, well, you don’t really want to include the fact that you’re actually terribly lazy and wouldn’t survive five seconds on an epic quest (you’ve already decided that you’re writing a fantasy novel that will rival Tolkien), you leave that out. No one wants to read about a lazy person, right? And while you’re at it, you get rid of those few extra pounds and tone up your muscles, since your main character has to be awesome. You are smart enough not to give your character your own name, instead giving your brainchild something fittingly awesome, like Destinee, or Hunter, maybe Rowan.

For conflict, well, naturally, you need a quest, so you have a random old man show up with a prophecy and a map, which your character realizes was meant for them, and so they pack up their bags, including the last bit of coin that their parents had been saving for some special occasion and the old sword that they’ve been practicing in secret with for the last few years. Oh, and you decide that their father died when they were an infant, because nothing sparks sympathy in the hearts of readers faster than a dead parent.

After dutifully tapping away for about three hours, you run out of ideas, but no matter, you have some good words, and your story is moving, and besides, it’s time for supper, so you head downstairs to eat, play a few video games before bed, and then crash.

When you pull up the document the next day, you stare at the blinking curser for about twenty minutes, as you realize you still have no ideas. So you bring up your problem in the writing forum you joined the day before, and you get told to introduce a new character. One person suggests that it be a love interest, and you really like that idea.

So you create this new character, giving them all the qualities you’d like in a mate, making them smoking hot, or drop-dead gorgeous, because you NEED to have them fall in love at first sight in order for your plot (or lack thereof) to work. Oh, and you make them an apprentice mage, because this is a fantasy world, and you need to do some worldbuilding.

And so your writing day continues, and you get more good words in until you run out of ideas, and you go eat supper and go to bed.

The next day, as you stare at that blinking curser, contemplating your lack of ideas, you recall the advice of yesterday, and decide to add a second love interest, because love triangles are popular, and you can never have too much of a good thing. You decide that this second person will be the complete opposite of the first, but also smoking hot/drop-dead gorgeous as applicable. But let’s make this person a thief, who’s trying to undermine the whole mage system.

You’re main character will take FOREVER trying to figure out which one to choose.

The next day, you realize that you need to put that sword to good use, so you defeat some ogres that randomly pop out of some friendly woods, and then realize that you need to be focusing on that prophesy, so your Mage Love Interest suggests that they go to visit an oracle. When you get to her, the Thief Love Interest reveals her for the shame she is, and thus succeeds in toppling the mage system. Your character realizes that this is the one for them, since the other was nothing but a phony who wanted you only for the prophesy … which, it turns out, was fulfilled when you took care of the oracle.

You excitedly type the words “The End,” publish it immediately to the fiction site you had just joined, and blithely ignore everyone who declares it the worst thing they’d ever read. They obviously wouldn’t know good fiction if it hit them upside the head with a fish.

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SISTER! I do hope you guys enjoyed my sister's snarky, not give you straight answer, side... Cuz I didn't. Believe me guys, DON'T FOLLOW HER ADVICE! In this post, she gave you all the things "NOT" to do. Anyways... Good grief. 

VK 

Dove Elephant.

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Made by a friend.