Nura: a Letter from a Minor Character

Me: FIVE days until publishing!!!!

But first. The guest post.

Okay, so maybe I just love all The Torch Keepers' characters and want you to get to know every one of them.

*shrugs* That's pretty true. But I still think you absolutely HAVE to meet Nura, a priceless, young girl who lost her sight before she could remember. Somehow though, she sees better than I do.

This little girl has gone through a lot, but she's more beautiful because of it. She loves the King. And now I asked her to narrate her story to me. So here 'tis.

(and I caught her in a talkative mood, which is rare! So enjoy that.)  =)

Nura's Story

Okay, can we start now?

Me: Yup, go right ahead!

Oh, then I'm ready. *giggles* Should I start with "once upon a time" or somethin' else?

Me: Whatever you want!

This will be fun! *clasps hands together*

Once upon a time, my mama had a baby. It was me!

But that was a long, long, long time ago. And I didn't get to see my mama for a long time. There was a big storm–I'm scared of storms–and Mama and I were stuck in it. But 'Dira saved me. I am sad though, 'cuz Mama died. I miss her.

*brightens* I'm still happy though! There's lots of pretty things that make me happy. Like the stories 'Dira tells me. She tells me about the flowers and trees and sunshine 'cause I can't see them. And she says the sunshine looks like me, 'cause my name means "light." I smile when she says that. *giggles*

My favorite things are flowers and creeks and the woods and rain and dancing and lots of things. I like pink too ('cause 'Dira likes that best). Oh, and all my family. I love Gamma and Father and 'Dira and Ike and everyone else. Even Faine (but he needs to laugh more). He's super serious and grumpy. *hides laugh*

But the bestest thing is the King. I never met 'im, but I still like 'im a whole lot. Because He loves me. Sometimes I think about that. The King is so big and strong and brave, but He likes me–a tiny girl who has eyes that don't work!

I tell 'im lots of secrets. And He listens too! When I'm scared, He keeps me safe, and He gives me lots of good gifts (like sunshine).

Some people say the King is far away and doesn't listen to us, but that's silly. Because lots of times He does! When I talk to 'im, He always answers me. Not because I'm super smart or anything. He just loves people. Even tiny ones. Even ones that have eyes that don't work.

The King loves everyone. That's the bestest thing.

He loves me and you and everyone else. And Gamma tells me that He has good plans. Like that storm that took away my mama. The King still had a plan then. That's why I still smile; 'cause He loves me!

So... um... oh no, I can't 'fink of anythin' else. Is this okay?

Me: This is perfect! Thank you, Nura.

You're welcome. Goodbye everyone *waves*. You should go dance or pick some flowers now. I'm gonna. If 'Dira will take me, I mean.

Me: Have fun! *folds letter* 

So there she is. That little girl holds a piece of me that somehow grown-ups forget to express.

The idea that Jesus really loves. That He really answers prayer. That He really is good.

We forget. We get distracted.

That's why I love Nura. She remembers the truth–sees it–even with her blind eyes.

So go live the adventure. Savor it. For our King.  ♥

The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

- Psalm 23:1-3

~♥~

Rekém: a Letter from a Protagonist

Me: Legends have heroes. They're strong and brave, slaying armies and solving mysteries. But real life is different. People struggle.

And in The Torch Keepers, the heroes struggle too. So meet Rekém, one of the two protagonists of the novel.

Guys, he is amazing. Yet when you read his story, you might not think so. I've had readers despise this guy, wonder why he is so cruel and cold inside. He makes bad decisions. He hurts people. But the truth is that even strong people need Love.

I asked (*cough* told) him to write a guest post, and I gave him some guidelines too; he's not the sort of guy that's natural at this stuff. I think Rekém would rather fly on a flame-wing or fight some battles than sit down and write a letter.

But I twisted his arm.  XD  So take a moment to meet this guy who somehow struggles a lot like I do.

Rekém's Story

Welcome, untrained one. I am Rekém, but I'd prefer to be called "Sir."

Me: Um, seriously? Rekém, we're not in an army right now. This is called a blog post, and it's supposed to be informal. 

*sighs* Okay. Let's go with this then.

I'm a leader of the Liberation. I guess it was thrust upon me before I was really old enough to decide. Back then, all I thought about was how cool it was to fly on a flame-wing and be strong like my brother who is the Prince of Érkeos. I wanted to be like him. Courageous, bold, fierce.

And I am. I lead armies. I take over cities with our emerald fire. No one can stop us.

Being a leader is hard sometimes. People think we're perfect. And sometimes it's true, I mean, we've worked hard to get to where we are.

But life isn't perfect, and we aren't either.

*stops* Hey, Author, I think we need to start over. I don't like this. I need to do more of the professional outlook and less about me. Maybe a tour of the camp or a lesson on battle technique?

Me: Sorry, time slot's getting short. I think you're doing great.

*shakes head* I can't go here.

Me: Okay. Then let's keep this easy. Tell them what your dream is.

Oh...

I guess. Well, it's just hard to describe.

My dream. It sounds easy. Ha. But when do people get to dream?

When I was young, my dream was simple. I wanted to do big things. I wanted to be like Teion, my brother. I wanted him to be proud of me.

So I did that. I am doing big things. I'm strong, one of the best fighters, most adept generals. But honestly... sometimes it doesn't feel like it matters anymore.

If I'm honest, my dream changed. It got smaller. A lot.

If I could choose any life, it would be to fly from this mess. To go back to the Sea where I belong and be free. To hide from the war and the blood and the death and be able to shut my eyes and find something... peace?

I'd stop trying to be brave and strong and courageous. And I'd find someone to share life with, someone who knew what love was. Who didn't need me to do anything to earn it, just gave it freely.

But dreams. *snorts* They don't happen anymore. Érkeos is stained in rebellion, in this war that blots the maps of history, and I'm stuck in the middle.

One doesn't run from trials; one embraces them. And so I'll keep fighting this battle so that one day I can really be free.

So... there's that.

Me: Hey Rekém, thanks for this. Your honesty is really good. One last thing?

*shrugs*

Me: I'll take that as a yes.  Could you wrap up with some practical advice? What do you want people to learn from your story?

Wow, I don't know.  I mean, does anyone really even notice anything these days?

But, I mean, sure. For all the young people out there, I'd tell them what I always told myself:

Be different. Be stronger. Be radical for what you believe in.

If you serve the King, do it with everything. Or if you've been disappointed by him like I have, live everything for the Prince.

Do crazy things sometimes. Be a leader.

But never do things half-way. Never give up, give in, until the mission is accomplished.

There it is. And now I have training to lead.

                  // Rekém

Me: *releases breath* That wasn't as hard as I expected.

To wrap up, friends, Rekém is searching. He doesn't have all the answers, but his advice does remain the same.

Be radical. Don't let anything stop you from what matters.

Live everything for the King. He has a great purpose for you, and His Story is incredible.

One surprise before sharing Rekém's theme verse:

The Torch Keepers now has a personality test you can take to find out which character you are most like!  Click here!

Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.

- Psalm 44:21

~♥~

Emyir: a Letter from a Mentor

Me: *waves* Hello again! Today I'm here with a guest post from one of my favorite book characters: Emyir.

Okay, I admit it, all The Torch Keepers' characters are my favorite. XD But this woman is especially dear to me. I've learned from her life, and the way she follows the King inspires me. Honestly, I want to be like Emyir when I grow up.

Here's her heart.

Emyir's Story

Dear friend,

I don't know why the Author chose me to write this. Of all the amazing characters in The Torch Keepers, my part of the Story isn't the grandest or most beautiful. And yet I wouldn't chose to live another.

Let's start from the beginning: my name is Emyir, and, as a babe, I was chosen by the King.

I'll never know why, yet somehow he chose me out of a humble heritage and set me apart. With eyes the color of the noon sky, I was immediately recognized as different. It would take a novel in itself to tell the ways the King worked through my simple childhood, not because of my strengths or unique qualities but because of Him. His goodness. His grace choosing someone as insignificant as me to live His Story.

Maybe there will be a book one day, but that's also not important. What matters is the role He gave me in the Story.

If I had a title, I suppose it would be "mentor to the heroine." Another title I don't deserve. Really. The heroine, Kadira, is a dear friend, not a student.

Together, we're Torch Keepers. Our blue eyes destined us to such a role, and we serve in the mountain pass of Palatiel, where the desert meets the hills.

The job is simple: to keep the King's blue flame burning as a declaration to the kingdom that Palatiel serves the true King.

Because there's a battle raging. In the solitude of the mountain pass, the war and anger and blood seems so far away, but it's drawing near. And one day, we'll be fighting too. Loyalty isn't about who we say we serve. It's about who we'll die for.

That's why I'm here. No matter what pretend Princes come against our gates, I'll fight for the King. I'll keep His blue fire burning. I'll run into sandstorms to rescue His children.

To tell the truth, it scares me. I'm not brave or strong. I can't do it. This calling hurts, it wears, it steals my strength.

So I live today for the King. And I trust that He will hold me up tomorrow.

*shrugs* That's who I am. It's short and sweet and not as impressive as others. But I wouldn't trade it because it's the Story the King has chosen for me.

If you read The Torch Keepers, you'll see a glimpse into my world, but don't pay too much attention to that at all. I'm not the protagonist, and my part of the Story isn't as long or impressive as others. I'm simply one person that the King has chosen to use. Isn't that crazy?!

But before I slip away, the Author asked me to leave you with a challenge. So here 'tis.

Dear friend, maybe you're a Torch Keeper. Maybe you're not. Yet the calling remains the same.

Whoever and wherever you are, there are battles roaring, and Princes will arise to fight the King of the land. Never grow comfortable, no matter how safe your city feels. Never think "follower of the King" is simply a label that you can wear casually.

This is a war. Every decision, every moment, matters. You either live for the King or live for a lie.

If you don't have a torch, keep the fire burning strong inside your blood. Be radical. Look for hurting souls around you, and run into sandstorms to rescue them.

No matter the color of your eyes, you can be an ambassador to your city, your kingdom, your world.

Live for the King.

                  // Emyir

(Me): See? I want to live like that.

If you're wondering what it looks like practically, let's chat in the comments! I'm sure Emyir would be glad to share more of her heart as we all seek to live completely sold-out for our King.

What you do, read, say, think, hear, it all matters. The battle is real. It's fierce. But there's hope.

Before sharing Emyir's theme verse, I have a quick gift for you: my novella, The Mystery of the Midnight Trespasser is free on Kindle until Wednesday! Click Here. Go grab a copy and share with friends!

Do everything for Jesus, my friend. ♥

For thus the LORD said to me;

“Go, set a watchman,

Let him declare what he sees.”

... (the watchman) listened earnestly with great care...

“I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime;

I have sat at my post every night.”

- Isaiah 21:6,8

~♥~

Ir-Haran: a Letter from a Minor Character

Me: *whispers* Hey guys, it’s me, Hosanna. Today I’m interviewing Ir-Haran, a minor character from The Torch Keepers. Just wanted to stop in and ask for a little grace here; he’s young, so I’ll be helping him along. Thus, I might have to step in a bit, and my text will be in italics, like this is.

Enjoy getting to know this small guy. I hope you love him like I do.

Ir-Haran's Story

Um, hi, my name is Ir-Haran, and I’m five, and I like sabbax deer ‘cause my daddy takes care of them in his stable, and I don’t really like to dance or stuff like that. 

Is that enough? 

Me: No, we just got started! 

Then what else? 

Me: Tell them something… what’s your favorite color? 

Oh, okay. 

Well, my favorite color is purple. I like it ‘cause it’s really nice. People say it’s a girl color, but I don’t think that matters. I still like it. 

But I guess if you read the Story, you won’t know I like purple. Ms. Author never says what my favorite color is. Actually, she doesn’t say a lot about me at all.

I’m only in one of those thingys—the pages with numbers at the start. What are they called again? 

Me: They’re called chapters. 

Oh yeah, I forgot. I’m only in one chapter. And I can’t talk a lot in the Story because I have to leave pretty fast. My friend Ka-Dara has lots and lots and lots of chapters! Ms. Author calls her a main character. I guess I’m a littler character, even though Ka-Dara and I are the same age. But she is taller than me.

Hey, I did get something cool though! Ms. Author gave me my own theme song. It's called "Our Destiny Lies Above Us", and I think it's neat. So you should listen to it. (click here)

But that’s not what Ms. Author asked me to talk about. She said, “tell them your purpose in the Story”, or somethin’ like that. 

I’m not in the Story a lot, but I still have a purpose. I have my own little stories that you’ll never know too. Those little stories change the big Story. That’s why Ms. Author wrote me. 

My part of the Story was important for Ka-Dara and for my sister Ir-Ivah. So even though I’m a littler character, I’m still important. 

Sometimes people are like that. I’m not amazing. I have freckles and am short for my age, and I’m not really good at things like my friends are. I only have one sister (and she's bossy). And my mom and dad only take care of sabbax deer in the stables in a desert city in the middle of nowhere. I mean, Ms. Author doesn't even tell you the name of the city.

But I still have a purpose in the Story. 

I guess even little people can do things. The Story would change if I was taken out—Ms. Author told me that she put me in for a reason. So maybe everyone’s like that. Maybe people all have reasons in the King's Story. 

I’m only in one…whatcha call it… oh, one chapter. But Ms. Author still wanted me to tell my story, ‘cause she wrote it for a reason. It’s a little like how the King makes people and gives them different lives (even little lives) for a big reason. 

So, that’s all. I hoped this worked, ‘cause I just told everything to Ms. Author and asked her to write it (my writing is not super good). She calls it narrate, and I like that, 'cause it makes me not sound so lazy.

I hope you read the Story and my special chapter. But even if you don’t, I hope you live your own Story. The King has a purpose for you too. 

                  // Ir-Haran 

Me: (psst) Isn’t he cute? Sometimes I just wanna squeeze that guy. 

A few things… Ir-Haran is shy, but I’m sure he’d be glad to respond to comments. Ask him anything!

And when The Torch Keepers comes out, make sure to read his chapter, remembering that every life has a purpose.

I’ll end with his theme verse. Even though Ir-Haran’s life may seem sad or insignificant (no spoilers, sorry!), it isn’t. And friend, yours isn’t either. We may be brought low, we might feel dry or separated from others, but there is Hope. 

The King loves you.

They are exalted for a little while,

Then they are gone.

They are brought low;

They are taken out of the way like all others;

They dry out like the heads of grain.

- Job 24:24

~♥~

The Torch Keepers Release Month!

Hello Friends!

July has flown by in an array of editing, gardening, canning, memories, and so much more.  And now August is upon us.

Which means The Torch Keepers will be released.

In. One. Month.

Eep.

The last few weeks have taught me a lot, including how simply absurd it is for me to worry about this book.  God has brought me through every step. And He will be there for the release too.

So why do I feel a tense excitement inside?  XD

Guys - it's time for the release month partying!  I have so many ideas and no clue how they are going to pan out.  But now YOU can be a part of the release, get sneak peeks, and join me in exploring the book before it's released to the world!

Here's the August fun:

My characters are taking over this blog.  All month long.

There'll be guest posts, sneak peeks, and some fun surprises.  And if you hop over to my instagram page, there'll be quotes, character photos, and more!

If you want to join in, here's how.

Fill out the form below.

Tell me you want to be part of this, and I'll send you weekly emails with info, graphics, and surprises that you can share on your website/social media.  Or you can just savor the secret info all to yourself.  XD

AND you can interview me or my characters!

This release is open to any ideas.  Just scroll down, enter your info, and we'll go!


Link to Sign Ups

Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth.

- Psalm 115:1

What's your favorite part of a book release party?  Comment below!

~♥~